Babe Whiffs and Ruby Falls

Babe Ruth at Ruby Falls in 1931

 

Baltimore has been reveling in sports glory this week after the Ravens eked out a win over San Francisco in what is now referred to as the "Black-Out Bowl".  118 years ago on February 6, 1895, a baby was born who would become arguably Baltimore's greatest claim to sports fame.  Kate Ruth gave birth to a baby boy who became known as "the Babe". 

 

In 1931, Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees played an exhibition game against a Double A minor league team, the Chattanooga Lookouts.  That was around the same time that a reporter asked the Babe to justify his salary demand of $80,000 a year when President Hoover was only making $75,000 a year.  "I had a better year than Hoover" explained the Babe.  During that April 2, 1931 game, Lookouts' pitcher Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri. When you consider that Babe Ruth struck out 1330 times in his major league career, it is not too remarkable that even a minor league pitcher could strike him out every now and then.  What is remarkable is that Jackie Mitchell was female.

 

During his 1931 visit to Chattanooga, Babe Ruth visited what was, at the time, a new attraction, a giant waterfall named Ruby Falls deep inside the bowels of Lookout Mountain.  On day 2 of our vacation we followed in the Babe's tracks.  We toured Ruby Falls.  Our tour began with an elevator ride that took us down 26 stories.  From there we hiked close to a half-mile into the heart of Lookout Mountain observing the various rock formations along the way.  Behind me was an 8-year-old kid marveling aloud at the various natural oddities inside the cave (other than me).  "Wow!  Potato chip, steak and potatoes and Dragonfoot!  They have neat names for things in here!"  Later, as we walked along a pathway with running water below us, his awe turned to dismay.  "This is freakin' me out!" 

 

Awaiting us at our destination, 1120 deep inside Lookout Mountain, was Ruby Falls, a 140-foot waterfall.  I visited the cave in 1967 before embarking on Basic Training.  Back then, before turning on the Ruby-colored spotlights, the cave guide turned off all the lights.  The darkness was profound.  They don't do that anymore.  I'll bet that would have really freaked that kid out.

 

If you like cave tours, you will like this cave tour as well.  If you don't, you probably won't, though one side benefit, even for non-cave lovers, is approximately one hour of freedom from any and all cell phone calls.  "If you get a call down here, I want to know what company provides your service" said the guide.

 

My 1967 visit to Ruby Falls was part of a 3000 mile roadtrip I took in January prior to heading to Army basic training the next month.  Driving a 1964 VW Karmann Ghia, I spent a grand total of $32 for gas on that trip. On this trip, $32 would barely get me out of Missouri.  Things have sure changed.

 

Babe Ruth was miffed when 18-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck him out on April 2, 1931.  After swinging and missing twice, with a count of 1-2, the Babe took a called third strike.  On the way back to the dugout, the Babe let the umpire know exactly what he thought of his umpiring abilities and it was not a favorable review.  After the game, the Babe said "I don't what's going to happen if they begin to let women in baseball.  Of course, they will never make good.  Why?  Because they are too delicate.  It would kill them to play ball every day."

 

While we were on our trip, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the Pentagon was lifting the ban on women serving in combat.  Like I said, things have sure changed.

 

If folks near Hawthorne, N.Y. heard an unusual whirring sound in the vicinity of Gate of Heaven cemetery after Leon Panetta's announcement, I reckon it was the Babe spinning in his grave.

 

Babe Ruth's grave in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y.  The Babe's epitaph reads:

May That Divine Spirit That Animated  BABE RUTH to Win the Crucial Game of Life Inspire the Youth of America"