"The Babe", "Babino", "The Home Run King" are only a few of George Herman Ruth, Jr.'s nick names. He deserved them all!
Out of the 100 best baseball players in the history of the game, Babe Ruth is number one!
How did it all happen? Well, born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland to parents who ran a saloon, little George ran the streets of Baltimore and spent his formative years in the saloon being educated in the seamy side of life. He became unruly and "incorrible" - the name that his parents gave him when they sent him at age seven to the nearest reform school: "St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys". There he remained till age 19! Those 12 years fashioned his life.
First of all, he had a gradual conversion of being "incorrigible" to "encourageable". The main force of the encouragement was the Prefect of Discipline, Brother Matthias, a 6'6"- no-nonsense-brother and "manager" of his life and talent. Brother could see that George loved the game and was a natural on the ball field; but he needed to fine-tune that natural talent to an unprecended new high for the game of baseball. Originally, George was a pitcher; but Brother Matthias showed his little ball player how to really hit the ball. With left hand, Brother threw the ball up in the air and with right hand hit the ball 350 feet with ease. George could see that it could be done. Knowing it could be done is "already half done."
It was Brother Matthias' kindness, devotion and great skills that changed George into "The Babe" we know today. This kind brother attracted George to a closer walk with God and with the grace of the Sacraments of the Chruch. George was gradually converted to become a good Catholic Christian. St. Paul's conversion was dramatic with a great light and voice from Jesus. But George's conversion was gradual and slow and fine tuned by the good example of Brother Matthias - the most important man ever to come into the life of Babe Ruth! God often sends into our lives a person or persons who reflect God in their lives to attract us to Himself. This man was Brother Matthias (who was the same size as Golliah: 6'6") for Babe Ruth.
How did the Babe get his name? There was a scout called Dunn who recruited George, age 19. When George showed up the next day for practice, the staff called out: "Here is one of Dunnie's babes!" That name stayed with the to be "home-run king" and champion all his life.
Here are just some of the reasons why Babe Ruth was the best there ever was:
1) Piched 29 innings in a row without anyone scoring: first ever in a World Series.
2) Hit 29 home runs in one season in 1919, a record for 43 years.
3) Hit 54 home runs in one season in 1920.
4) Hit 59 home runs in one season in 1921.
5) Hit 60 home runs in one season in 1927, a record for 34 years.
6) Hit a 714 career amount of home runs by March 25, 1935.
7) Was inducted into the newly formed Hall of Fame: one of only three men at that time.
8) Played for the Baltimore Orieols, Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. While with the New York Yankees, they won 7 Pennants and 4 World Series.
He remained with his wife, Helen, until she died; then soon married again.
His religious beliefs: he was Roman Catholic all his life. He aways had a soft spot for sick kids and visited them often in the hospitals. He said that some may say that "when one strays from the Church, then that means that religion didn't take; but once religion sinks in, we won't fail because there is a little chapel deep down in us." Babe's Faith did not fail...he was Catholic to the end:
While the Babe was awaiting surgery in a hospital in 1946, his friend, Paul Carrey, said to him: "Don't you think you should put your house in order?" Paul called for the priest chaplain who heard his confession and said to Babe that he would come in the morning to give him Holy Communion. A year and a half later, Babe Ruth died on August 16, 1948 at age 53.
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In a person letter written by Babe Ruth, we get a lot of insight into his heart. Here are some of the quotes as best as I can remember them:
1) "Bad boy Ruth that was me...I had a rotten start..and I do not think I knew right from wrong. I was taken to St. Mary's, an orphanage and reform schood. I was 'an incorrible'..I guess I was. I would have stayed that way except for Brother Matthias - the greatest man I ever knew."
2) I had the grace of conversion - from a Power over and above man: The Power of God. God had an eye out for me - as He does for you. God was not only just but merciful."
3) "I have seen a lot of 'he-men' in my baseball career but no one like Brother Matthias. He was 260 pound and 6 foot 6 inces. He saw I could throw and catch, but in 1902, he would hit the ball 350 feet; and I just stood bugg-eyed. He could have been successful at anything, but he chose the Church."
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Please note that there were four people in Babe's life that were instrumental in bringing the Babe closer to God:
1) The first was the love and care of Brother Matthias who was the most instrumental in the Babe's conversion.
2) The second was a little boy named Mike from the 7th grade who sent the Babe a Miraculous Medal and told the Babe: You should wear it; and it would help you to get better." The Babe pinned it to his shirt and said: "I will wear it to my grave"; and he did.
3) The third was the priest chaplain who was so loving and kind to the Babe and made it easy for him to confess and go to Holy Communion. The priest even told Babe he did not have to fast. But the Babe did anyways. He wanted to do all he could to show his love for Jesus.
4) The fourth was Paul Carrey who urged the Babe to go to confession and Communion in order to put his "house in order". Paul said to Babe, "You are having an operation tommow. Don't you think you should put your house in order." The Babe consented and said: "Yes, I will because death might strike me out."
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These four people above show us that we, too, can be an instrument of conversion for others by our love and caring. Even if we do not see the fruits of our efforts, there will be fruits nonetheless.
We can also be open to see the things that will deepen our own conversion.
We all have a role to play. Look at St. Steven who prayed for those who were killing him. His prayers were heard because Saul who was approving of St. Steven's death was converted and became the great St. Paul.
"The History of the Chruch is the History of Conversions."
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FATHER in Heaven, You created both Babe Ruth and Baseball - as a perfect pair - made for each other. Babe Ruth loved the game and was estatic to have been paid for playing the game he loved.
Father, You did make us all to play before You just as we love to see our kids playing before us. The game of baseball is holy in the sense that it is based on fair play and clean fun.
Bless our National game of baseball and keep it from becoming too commercialized. Please keep that spiritual-physical invigorating fun within the game...and within the fans.
One day let us all have eternal fun as we play forever before Your Throne when You will call out to all of us: "PLAY BALL!" In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Love, Pio
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