MUNCIE, Ind. - Frog Baby Fountain was vandalized Tuesday night or Wednesday morning in an apparent effort to steal the 3-foot-tall "Frog Baby" sculpture, long part of Ball State University folklore.

University police said the bronze sculpture itself was not harmed, although evidence from damaged mountings suggests vandals attempted to take the statue.

However, four of the frogs which surround the fountain area were stolen. Damage was also done to the mountings and the water pipes connected to the stolen frogs.

"This appears very much to be a juvenile act," said University Police Assistant Chief Robert Fey. "We’re hopeful that someone either noticed the offenders in the act or can help us recover the stolen art."

Damage is estimated to be in excess of $10,000.

The pond was dry and the fountains were off for maintenance purposes at the time of the crime.

The sculpture of the chubby little girl dangling two frogs by their feet and smiling up at the sky has become legendary over the years. It was cast by the late American sculpture Edith Barretto Stevens Parson between 1917-37.

Frog Baby was donated by Muncie industrialist Frank C. Ball and it resided in the Ball State University Museum of Art for many years.

According to campus folklore, students could rub her nose for good luck before exams. All that caressing eventually caused damage to the sculpture and it was packed away for many years.

In 1993, Frog Baby was restored and placed in the middle of a fountain built on the north side of Bracken Library. The fountain is dedicated to the late Alexander M. Bracken, son-in-law of Frank Ball and a key player in Ball State’s rapid growth after World War II.

Anyone with information about this incident or anyone who observed suspicious activity near the fountain between 7 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday should contact University Police at (765)285-3741.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Fey by e-mail at 00rcfey@bsu.edu or by phone at (765) 285-1210. )