Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:38 — 16.3MB)
It’s everything you ever wanted to know about Babe Ruth, that can be squeezed into less than a half hour. Well, maybe not everything, but this will be a special treat that features Babe Ruth himself. Before the drama starts, an aging Babe Ruth has just recuperated from a hospital stay and he offers gratitude for the Hallmark cards that fans sent him.
The dramatization begins with a young George showing his pitching skills for the scout for the Baltimore Orieoles. Babe’s high salary of $25 a week was squandered on a sleek new bike to ride all through the streets of Baltimore. His batting record helped elevate him to the top of the game.
Though his personal habits may not have been exemplary, late nights, heavy drinking and over eating, it never seemed to put a dent in his game. No matter how much coaches tried to get him to change, and take care of himself, his ways were set. All Babe ever wanted to do is live the highlife after his childhood of meager existence. Still, in an effort to protect him from himself, his coaches threatened to take him out of the game if he didn’t change his ways.
Eventually, Babe’s over indulgence did land him in a hospital bed. Babe’s fans, an army of boys took his notice outside the hospital, and he was touched to know they were praying for him. Babe was just a big kid himself, and though he had his worst season ever with a total of 25 home runs, he still was the center of attention as he vowed to never let his kids down. Even before there was a Make a Wish Foundation, Babe visited sick kids in the hospital to raise their spirits, and hit his home runs for them.
Bonus Track:
George Burns. George Teaches Gene Kelley to Dance.
