The Babe And The Great Communicator!

Mere hours away from the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and I am reminded about the importance and the historical impact that befell two individuals born in this day in 1895 and again in 1911. 

Lets begin with the former date, shall we?

The son of parents who worked and owned a bar in Baltimore. Md. An incorrigible kid who ran wild in the streets and was always getting in trouble.

His saving grace was being left at an orphanage called St. Marys Industrial School For Boys that helped reform troubled kids and teach them a trade when it was time to turn 18. 

His birth name was George Herman Ruth. Of course you and I would know him as 'The Babe', 'Bambino', and perhaps some other terms of endearment/dislike that need not be retyped here. There was a pastor within the orphanage who for all intents and purposes became the surrogate parent the youthful George needed so badly.

Father Matthias AKA 'The Prefect Of Discipline'. A man you did not mess around with. 

Early in the turn of the century baseball was quite the sport in the states. It just so happened Ruth had a proclivity for hitting the ball and hitting it well. George Herman also had an issue with anger. Brother Matthias was able to help the future Babe Ruth harness the anger and channel it into his love of baseball.

How did George Herman Ruth get the 'Babe' nickname? It was reported that one day when signed by Jack Dunn to play baseball in the Federal League circa 1914 Ruth was coming through a training session to which one of the oldtime roughnecks slapped his knee with glee and said, 'There's another one of Dunn's Babes!' The nickname would forever stick.

A 1974 book written by Robert Creamer 'Babe-The Legend Comes To Life' does a nice job in painting a picture of being young and rich during the Roaring 20s. No doubt that prior to 1974 anything accomplished in a huge fashion was tagged with the term 'Ruthian', 'Bambinoesque' and of course 'Sultan Of Swat' worthy.

Lest you think the only thing Babe Ruth did was hit home runs, well guess again!

Before coming to the New York Yankees in 1920 Babe Ruth had a nice run of success in Boston for the Red Sox as a pitcher. It was along the way people like Harry Frazee and Ed Barrow determined the power of the Babe be utilized to play the outfield on days he wasn't pitching. Hence a 29 home run season in 1919. Unheard of in the deadball era. Babe Ruth made home runs look effortless and fun.

Oh could the Bambino also pitch! From 1914-1919 Babe Ruth had a career record of 89-46 with an ERA at about 2.30. He would make 5 spot starts as a Yankee from 1920 to 1934 and go 5-0. He would set a record in World Series play with 29 and two thirds scoreless innings. A record that stood until 1961 when broken by Whitey Ford. 

You know the story by now, right? Sold to the Yankees in January of 1920 by Harry Frazee for a 350,000 loan (Frazee was financing a Broadway play 'No No Nanette!) and the wonder of what might have been. Three World Series titles before 1920 in Boston. Nothing until 2004 and one could understand the so-called bugaboo many Beantown fans referred to as 'The Curse Of The Bambino'.

54 dingers in 1920, 59 in 1921, 60 in 1927 a record within a 154 game season. In 1923 the Yankees built a brand new stadium in the Bronx that seated almost 75,000 fans. Many a memory was birthed and adopted in 'The House That Ruth Built'. Many fans and players alike proclaimed that Babe Ruth was the greatest player ever!

Babe Ruth could run, throw, and hit when he was healthy and not going the route of excesses. He set many standards for baseball back in the first half of the 20th Century that seem all the more amazing today as we (hopefully) have surpassed the steroid age. 119 years ago the Bambino was born.

This day 1911 Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico, Ill. Use whatever adjective you want about our future president, California Governor, Hollywood actor, head of the Screen Actors Guild, and forever the face of George Gipp (Win one for the Gipper!). Ronald Reagan had a way with speaking and getting people to feel good about themselves and America.

Sports is where I will go with this. Believe it or not there is a connection with Babe Ruth and Ronald Reagan. How is that? Well, among the many movies Reagan did while in Hollywood there was one made portraying a pitcher named Grover Cleveland Alexander.

The film was called, 'The Winning Team'. Much has been made about whether or not hard drinking pitcher Alexander really was that bad of an alcoholic or if the reputation was brought on because of another disorder while serving in World War I. Epilepsy provoked by an attack of Mustard Gas.

Performing alongside Doris Day in the 1952 movie (which received great reviews) Reagan did admirably in portraying The Great Alex especially at the 1926 World Series. Winning Games 2 and 6 Grover went out to celebrate in New York City. What he didn't know was that Game 7 would have a little history with him in it.

Coming in for an injured starting pitcher Jesse Haines (blister) Grover Cleveland Alexander comes into Game 7 with two outs and the bases loadedin the 7th inning. Tony Lazzeri at the plate. Lazzeri strikes out to end the rally after nearly crushing a grand slam foul by inches left of the foul pole. Grover retires the side in the 8th and with 2 outs in the 9th walked Babe Ruth. 

Babe Ruth would proceed to get thrown out at second base trying to steal by catcher Bob O'Farrell and the Cardinals were World Champions. Ronald Reagan (as The Great Alex) did admirably in the role and for a change the Bambino was not part of a winning team.

One final memory I have with Ronald Reagan. July 11th 1989 at Anaheim Stadium the All-Star Game was underway. NBC with the telecast with Vin Scully Joe Garagiola and here comes Ronald Reagan six months removed from being president. While Reagan and Scully talk Bo Jackson is at the plate and Bo blasts a home run into right center. A mammoth blast that caused the Ballpark to erupt in cheers. This was back when Bo was playing two sports.

Leave it to Ronald Reagan and Babe Ruth to usually be on the winning team on the diamond and at the mound. 119 and 103 years ago today.

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will