Babe Ruth [sports]

Calvin

Welcome to Headstones and Microphones where we use AI to step into the past through a researched, first-person simulation of history's most interesting people. I am your host, Calvin. While we’ve added some creative storytelling, our goal is to inspire your own study of these fascinating lives. Now, let’s meet our guest.

Calvin

Welcome to the show! I am beyond excited to have a true American icon with us today. For those who may somehow not know who you are... who are you?

White Male Guest

Well hello there, Calvin. It’s a real treat to be chatting with you. I’m George Herman Ruth Jr., but most folks just called me Babe, the Bambino, or the Sultan of Swat. I spent a good chunk of my life swinging a bat and chasing fly balls for the Red Sox and the Yankees!

Calvin

It is an absolute honor, George. Let's start at the very beginning. When and where were you born?

White Male Guest

I was born on February 6, 1895, right in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland. My folks lived on Emory Street, and I grew up right there in the city.

Calvin

And what was your given name at birth? Was there a story behind it?

White Male Guest

My name was George Herman Ruth Jr., named after my father. There wasn't a big fancy story behind the name itself, but there is quite a story about my birthday! For a long time, I actually thought I was born on February 7, 1894. I lived most of my life believing that until I saw my birth certificate much later and realized I was a year younger than I thought!

Calvin

That is incredible! Imagine gaining a year back like that. What was your hometown like growing up in Baltimore?

White Male Guest

Baltimore was a busy place back then. My father ran several saloons, and for a while, we lived right above one of them on the site where Camden Yards stands today. It was a rough-and-tumble environment, lots of noise and characters coming through the doors.

Calvin

And what was your family life like during those early years?

White Male Guest

It was tough, to be honest. My parents, George Sr. and Kate, worked incredibly long hours at the saloon. I was one of eight children, but sadly, only my sister Mamie and I survived infancy. With my parents working so much, I didn't have much guidance. I spent a lot of time on the streets, causing a bit of trouble and skipping school.

Calvin

So, what kind of kid were you exactly?

White Male Guest

I was a handful! I’d call myself "unruly" or "incorrigible"—that’s what the schools called me, anyway. I was chewing tobacco and tasting whiskey before I was even eight years old. I just had too much energy and nowhere to put it until my parents realized I needed some discipline.

Calvin

That led to a big change, right? You were sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys. What were your biggest fears or dreams as a kid there?

White Male Guest

Sending me there was the best thing that ever happened to me, though it felt scary at seven years old. My biggest fear was probably just being alone or not belonging anywhere. As for dreams, I didn't think much about the future early on. I was just trying to get through the day until I found a baseball in my hand.

Calvin

Did you have any favorite activities in school, other than baseball?

White Male Guest

At St. Mary’s, everyone had to learn a trade. Mine was shirt making! I spent a lot of time in the tailor shop. I also enjoyed singing in the choir. But let’s be honest, Calvin, I was always looking out the window at the ball field.

Calvin

What was your first real job?

White Male Guest

If you don't count making shirts, my first "real" job was signing that contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 1914. I was still living at the school when Jack Dunn came to watch me play.

Calvin

Was there a moment where you realized you were different from everyone else on the field?

White Male Guest

It was when I realized I could do things with a ball that grown men struggled with. I remember Brother Matthias at St. Mary’s hitting long flies to me and watching me throw them back with ease. He was a huge man, a father figure to me, and he saw something in me I didn't see yet. He’d spend hours working with me on my hitting and pitching.

Calvin

What’s a decision that changed everything for you, but felt small at the time?

White Male Guest

Probably the moment I decided to stop pitching so much and start playing the outfield every day. In 1919, I told the press I’d win more games playing every day than pitching every fourth day. I wanted to hit! That decision turned me from a great pitcher into a home-run hitter, and I never looked back.

Calvin

That worked out pretty well! What would you say was your biggest break?

White Male Guest

My biggest break was definitely Jack Dunn signing me. I was nineteen, and because I was technically a ward of the state, he had to legally adopt me to get me out of the school and onto the team. That’s actually how I got my nickname! The older players saw me following him around and started calling me "Jack’s newest babe."

Calvin

What were your biggest struggles before that success? Did you ever consider quitting?

White Male Guest

The struggle was mostly the lack of freedom and the discipline of the school. But I never wanted to quit baseball. Never. Once I tasted the game, I knew it was the only thing for me. I just wanted to play, eat, and have a good time.

Calvin

Speaking of playing, were there any daily habits or routines that were essential to your success?

White Male Guest

My routine wasn't exactly what you’d call "scientific" today! I loved a big breakfast—lots of eggs and meat—and I loved to stay active. Later on, scientists at Columbia actually tested me and found my eyes and brain recorded sensations faster than the average man. My habit was just trusting my swing and being "mentally exceptional," as they put it. I also made sure to never stop swinging as hard as I could.

Calvin

If fame never happened, what job do you think you would have had?

White Male Guest

I probably would have been a tailor, just like I was trained to be at St. Mary’s. Can you imagine the Sultan of Swat sewing buttons on shirts? I think I’m much better suited for the pinstripes on a jersey than the ones on a suit!

Calvin

How did your relationships change after you became a superstar?

White Male Guest

Success brings a lot of people into your circle. Some were true friends, like my teammate Lou Gehrig for a long time, and others were just there for the ride. I always tried to be kind and give back, especially to the kids. I never forgot where I came from.

Calvin

Did all that fame bring you happiness, or was there a downside?

White Male Guest

Oh, it brought plenty of joy! I loved the roar of the crowd. There’s nothing like it. The downside was the lack of privacy and the misconceptions. People thought I was just a big, loud guy who got lucky, but I worked hard at my craft. I respected the game more than anything.

Calvin

What was something people often misunderstood about your life?

White Male Guest

Some folks thought I didn't care about the details, but I was a student of the game. I knew exactly what kind of pitch I liked—a low ball just above the knees on the outside corner. I studied pitchers more than they realized.

Calvin

Tell me about a time when everything went wrong. How did you handle it?

White Male Guest

The sale from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919 was a huge shock. It changed the game forever. At first, it felt like everything was being uprooted, but I handled it by deciding to show New York exactly what I could do. I turned that challenge into the best years of my life.

Calvin

Who had the biggest influence on your life?

White Male Guest

Without a doubt, Brother Matthias. He was the one who taught me how to play, but more importantly, he showed me how to be a man. He gave me the guidance I was missing as a kid.

Calvin

Looking toward the end of your career, what was life like in your final years?

White Male Guest

It was a bit of a twilight period. I retired in 1935 after a short stint with the Boston Braves. I desperately wanted to manage a major league team—I waited and waited for that phone to ring, but the offer never came. I filled my time with hunting, bowling, and listening to the radio. I loved "The Lone Ranger"!

Calvin

What were you working on in your career just before you passed away?

White Male Guest

I spent some time as a coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938, which I hoped would lead to a managing job, but it didn't work out. After that, I spent a lot of my time doing charity work, visiting hospitals, and helping with the war effort during the 1940s.

Calvin

When and where did you pass away?

White Male Guest

I passed away on August 16, 1948, in New York City. I had been battling throat cancer for a couple of years. It was a tough fight, but the support from the fans kept my spirits high until the end.

Calvin

Before we wrap up, what’s a random fact about you most people have never heard?

White Male Guest

Here's a good one: I hit the very first home run in the history of the All-Star Game back in 1933 at Comiskey Park. Oh, and I once hit 60 home runs in a season when that was 14% of all the home runs in the entire league!

Calvin

That is a staggering statistic! What about the craziest rumor ever told about you?

White Male Guest

Folks used to say I ate a dozen hot dogs and drank a gallon of soda between innings of a doubleheader. Now, I definitely had a healthy appetite, but even the Babe has his limits!

Calvin

What was your most unique habit on the field?

White Male Guest

I used to put a cold cabbage leaf under my hat to stay cool during those hot summer games. I’d change it every few innings. It worked like a charm!

Calvin

That is classic! What was your favorite food and did you have a favorite restaurant?

White Male Guest

I loved a good steak and highballs. In New York, you could often find me at the Biltmore or any place that served a hearty meal. I wasn't too picky as long as the portions were big!

Calvin

Did you have any famous rivalries?

White Male Guest

Ty Cobb and I had a bit of a back-and-forth. We were very different players and had different ideas about how the game should be played. He was all about the "small ball," and I was all about the "big swing."

Calvin

What’s your funniest behind-the-scenes moment or a prank you played?

White Male Guest

I loved a good laugh. Once, during a trip to Bali, I told my friends I didn't care for the local style because there were "no broads" at the golf club! I always liked to keep the mood light with the boys.

Calvin

What was the most outlandish purchase you ever made?

White Male Guest

I wasn't much for fancy gadgets, but I did love my cars and my hunting gear. I suppose the most "outlandish" thing was just the lifestyle—traveling the world and staying in the best hotels.

Calvin

What advice would you give to people chasing their own success today?

White Male Guest

"You just can't beat the person who never gives up." That’s my best advice. Every strike brings you closer to the next home run. Keep swinging hard and love what you do.

Calvin

George, this has been an absolute delight. Do you have any closing remarks or stories you'd like to share with our listeners before we sign off?

White Male Guest

Just that I’m so thankful for the life I had and the fans who cheered for me. Baseball is a beautiful game, and I'm just happy I got to be a part of its history. Thank you for having me on, Calvin. It was a real home run of an afternoon!

Calvin

Thank you so much, Babe! It was an incredible journey through the life of the greatest to ever play the game. We talked about everything from the saloons of Baltimore to the pinstripes of Yankee Stadium. Thanks for joining us on the show. And that wraps up another conversation from beyond the grave. Thanks for joining us on The Headstones and Microphones Podcast. Remember—legends may die, but their stories never do. Please help spread the word by sharing and following the pod.