The Babe

Babe Ruth. His name like no other name says what is great about baseball. Even though most of us never even saw him play, more than a half century since his death he’s still bigger than life.

The sepia toned movies of the big man lumbering around the bases. Even if you don’t like baseball, you know Babe Ruth. In my minds eye, I see, the Bambino with a crown on his head and winking.

In a few days, a local auction will sell an autograph from the games greatest legend. It could fetch more than $1,000 dollars. I won’t be surprised. I wondered what could make a symbol of a man so valuable.

Let’s consider. He was a man that was perfect for the times he was living in. It’s a classic example of the right man, right place, right time. Baseball was fighting to recover from the Black Sox gambling scandal.

How did he become one of the greatest names in sports. Here’s what I think.

1. He was consistent - He did what he was supposed to do as a ball player. His success wasn’t short-lived he was able to come up big when needed.

2. He was real - Babe Ruth, I am sure was a lot of things, but he was excited about life
and the opportunities it presented. Not all of them good choices, but he was enthusiastic. He wasn't ordinary.

3. He cared - He understood that success was to be shared. As much as I think of the home runs, I think of his love for kids. He cared for baseball.

4. He had a great team around him - The New York Yankee dynasty is still considered one of greatest of all time. Everyone still measures their success against the Bronx Bombers. Those team mates played to his strengths and covered his weaknesses. There are some that say Babe Ruth wouldn’t have been as great, without Lou Gehrig batting right behind him.

5. He understood his limits - The late 1920s, Ruth was making more than the President of the US. The Babe laughed and said, “I had a better year.” His role was to play baseball and help the Yankees win. His job wasn’t fight Nazi tyranny in Europe.

6. He took risks. At one point, he struck out more than any player in the game. You can’t hit the long ball, generally, if you are watching balls go by.

7. He was good when he had to be. He didn’t hit a home run, or even get on base every time that he came to the plate. He just was good enough, enough of the time to make a difference.

And really aren’t those same things true for us. Want to make a difference in the lives of others, build a legacy in your family, your friends, your co-workers. Remember these concepts. You probably won’t be remembered by the rest of the world, but your memory will mean the world to those who knew you.

note: The baseball sold for more than $22,000.