This series of articles seeks to examine the character attributes of highly successful leaders, regardless of their adherence to a strong faith or moral standard. In presenting these thoughts, Leadership Ministries is not agreeing with or advocating these traits or practices, but rather presents these as ideas for discussion and development in your own leadership journey.
George Herman “Babe” Ruth (1895 – 1948) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned 22 seasons. He’s one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and widely considered the greatest baseball player of all time.[1] Ruth was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the first five members.
Ruth was born in Baltimore and grew up in a modest home with seven siblings. He had little supervision growing up and became a delinquent. He was sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory and orphanage, at age 7. Ruth later said as a kid he ran in the streets, rarely attended school and drank beer when his dad wasn’t looking. He spent 12 years at St. Mary’s and was considered “incorrigible”. Most of the boys at St. Mary’s played baseball in organized leagues, and this is where Ruth fell in love with the game and began to hone his skills. By age 18, he had become the best pitcher at the school, and was allowed to leave the premises on weekends to play on community teams. Ruth said, “If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.”
Learn from failure. Ruth got his first baseball contract in the minor leagues at age 19, earning a monthly salary of $100. He had raw talent, but lacked knowledge of basic etiquette, like eating at a restaurant, being in a hotel, or traveling by train. His naïve ways earned him the nickname, “Babe”. During his career, he struck out 1,330 times. He was known for his love of alcohol and women, which did not serve him well. He later tried to be a manager, but was unable to handle players.
But Ruth was also a lifelong learner. After realizing what he’d done when he encouraged others to have unhealthy habits, he stopped smoking and drinking in public. He used strikeouts to hone his swing and refine his strategy. In addition to his 714 home runs, Ruth garnered 2,873 hits, 2,174 runs and 2,214 RBIs in his career. He had nearly double the number of strikeouts as he did home runs. Ruth said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” His failures faded into the distance as he became one of the most successful players in history.
Never give up. Ruth entered Game 3 of the 1932 World Series in a slump. He was up at the plate with two strikes and the crowd began to boo him. He rose to the pressure and on the third pitch, he hit a powerful home run—one of the longest ever recorded at Wrigley Field. His team went on to win the game. Babe Ruth often responded to pressure with perseverance and determination.
Baseball is often a game of attrition. The games are long and sometimes it’s a matter of wearing out the other team, physically and mentally. He said, “You just can't beat the person who never gives up.” A reporter asked him what went through his mind when he stands at the plate, and Ruth replied that all he ever thinks about his just hitting the ball. Ruth had a knack for putting aside distraction and focusing on the task at hand.
Inspire and motivate. Ruth had a captivating personality that drew people in. During his career he grew out of playing for himself to become a true member of his team. He said, “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.”
Ruth became the first athletic star to enjoy the impact of radio. Virtually everyone in the modern world at the time could share in the experience of listening to a game. He was among the first legendary men to be heralded in his own lifetime. Ruth’s gregarious nature made him a symbol of America’s power, a brilliant and humorous man with human flaws that made him almost mythic.[2]
In 1930, Ruth negotiated the largest salary in baseball—an unprecedented $80,000 a year—which was considerably more than the salary of then-US President Herbert Hoover. By 1934, Ruth played in his last full season with the Yankees. Years of high living had caught up with him. His health had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer field or run. Though he wanted to continue in the game as a manager, no one would hire him. One owner commented, “How can he manage other men when he can’t even manage himself?” Cancer claimed Babe Ruth’s life in 1948, at the age of 53. A devout Catholic, Ruth was reported to be saying prayers until the very end.
George Herman “Babe” Ruth (1895 – 1948) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned 22 seasons. He’s one of the greatest heroes in American culture and considered the greatest baseball player of all time.