Where Did They Grow Up?
The cities and small towns that shaped the all-time greats — long before the spotlight.
Quick answers
Open a focused explainer for the direct answer, then the background and record context behind it.
Babe Ruth Childhood: Pigtown to St. Mary's
Babe Ruth's childhood: born 216 Emory St in Baltimore, raised at St. Mary's Industrial School from age 7, signed by the Orioles in 1914.
Read the answer → MLBDerek Jeter Hometown: Growing Up in Kalamazoo
Derek Jeter's hometown is Kalamazoo, Michigan — moved at age 4, attended Kalamazoo Central High, drafted 6th overall by the Yankees in 1992.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Aaron Judge Grew Up: Linden, California
Aaron Judge grew up in Linden, California — a town of 1,800 in San Joaquin County. He was adopted at one day old by Patty and Wayne Judge.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Bryce Harper Grew Up: Las Vegas, Nevada
Bryce Harper grew up in Las Vegas, NV — the GED-and-JC path he took to skip his high school junior and senior years for the 2010 MLB Draft.
Read the answer → NHLWhere Connor McDavid Grew Up: Newmarket, Ontario
Connor McDavid grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, north of Toronto. Granted exceptional-player status by the OHL at age 15.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Cooper Flagg Grew Up: Newport, Maine
Cooper Flagg grew up in Newport, Maine — the rural town that produced the 2025 #1 NBA pick after one season at Duke.
Read the answer →Every question in this guide
Grouped by league so related answers stay together and every page remains easy to find.
NBA (8)
Where Cooper Flagg Grew Up: Newport, Maine
Cooper Flagg grew up in Newport, Maine — the rural town that produced the 2025 #1 NBA pick after one season at Duke.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Derrick Rose Grew Up: Englewood, Chicago
Derrick Rose grew up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago's South Side, raised by his single mother and three older brothers.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Giannis Antetokounmpo Grew Up: Athens, Greece
Giannis Antetokounmpo grew up in Athens — stateless until 18 because Greece didn't grant his Nigerian parents citizenship.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Joel Embiid Grew Up: Yaoundé, Cameroon
Joel Embiid grew up in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He didn't pick up a basketball until age 15 and moved to the US for high school in 2011.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Kevin Durant Grew Up: Suitland, Maryland
Kevin Durant grew up in Suitland, MD — a DC suburb where his mother Wanda raised him through working-class struggles.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Luka Dončić Grew Up: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Luka Dončić grew up in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and signed with Real Madrid at age 13. Won EuroLeague MVP at 19 — the youngest ever.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Michael Jordan Grew Up: Wilmington, North Carolina
Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, NC, where he was famously cut from the Laney High varsity as a sophomore — a slight that fueled him.
Read the answer → NBAWhere Victor Wembanyama Grew Up: Le Chesnay, France
Victor Wembanyama grew up in Le Chesnay, France. Played pro basketball there from age 15 before going #1 to San Antonio in 2023.
Read the answer →NFL (4)
Where Deion Sanders Grew Up: Fort Myers, Florida
Deion Sanders grew up in Fort Myers, FL, where he was a three-sport star at North Fort Myers High before signing with FSU.
Read the answer → NFLWhere Patrick Mahomes Grew Up: Whitehouse, Texas
Patrick Mahomes grew up in Whitehouse, Texas — a town of 8,000 outside Tyler — as the son of MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes Sr.
Read the answer → NFLWhere Saquon Barkley Grew Up: Bronx → Coplay, PA
Saquon Barkley was born in the Bronx and moved to Coplay, PA at age 4. He starred at Whitehall High before going to Penn State and the NFL.
Read the answer → NFLWhere Tom Brady Grew Up: San Mateo, California
Tom Brady grew up in San Mateo, CA, the youngest of four kids in a season-ticket-holding 49ers family — Joe Montana fandom and all.
Read the answer →MLB (7)
Babe Ruth Childhood: Pigtown to St. Mary's
Babe Ruth's childhood: born 216 Emory St in Baltimore, raised at St. Mary's Industrial School from age 7, signed by the Orioles in 1914.
Read the answer → MLBDerek Jeter Hometown: Growing Up in Kalamazoo
Derek Jeter's hometown is Kalamazoo, Michigan — moved at age 4, attended Kalamazoo Central High, drafted 6th overall by the Yankees in 1992.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Aaron Judge Grew Up: Linden, California
Aaron Judge grew up in Linden, California — a town of 1,800 in San Joaquin County. He was adopted at one day old by Patty and Wayne Judge.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Bryce Harper Grew Up: Las Vegas, Nevada
Bryce Harper grew up in Las Vegas, NV — the GED-and-JC path he took to skip his high school junior and senior years for the 2010 MLB Draft.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Hank Aaron Grew Up: Mobile, Alabama
Hank Aaron grew up in Toulminville, a Black neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama, and started his pro career with the Indianapolis Clowns.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Ken Griffey Jr. Grew Up: Cincinnati and Donora, PA
Ken Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, PA but grew up primarily in Cincinnati during his father Ken Sr.'s years with the Reds.
Read the answer → MLBWhere Shohei Ohtani Grew Up: Oshu, Japan
Shohei Ohtani grew up in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, where his father coached him in baseball from age 4.
Read the answer →NHL (2)
Where Connor McDavid Grew Up: Newmarket, Ontario
Connor McDavid grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, north of Toronto. Granted exceptional-player status by the OHL at age 15.
Read the answer → NHLWhere Sidney Crosby Grew Up: Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Sidney Crosby grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, where his father — a former Canadiens draft pick — coached him from age 3.
Read the answer →Hall of Fame guide FAQ
What is included in the Where Did They Grow Up? guide?
The cities and small towns that shaped the all-time greats — long before the spotlight.
How many answers are in this Childhood & Hometowns collection?
This guide currently contains 21 direct-answer pages, organized by league and linked to related player profiles.
Where can I browse the complete sports history directory?
The Sports Hall of Fame Guide links every topic pillar, league hub, and featured player profile in one directory.