The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth

Okay, so last night I'm flipping through the channels taking a break from work and I find this really excellent documentary on Jackie Mitchell. I had forgotten about her over the years and it made me sad. Time and age had placed this amazing woman's story way back in my cerebral hard drive. How many of you know Jackie Mitchell? Not many I'd be afraid to guess.

Jackie was the girl who struck out Babe Ruth. And Lou Gehrig I might add. She was a pioneer in women's sports. Even before Babe Didrickson came onto the stage. Jackie was from Chattanooga, Tennessee and grew up learning baseball from her father and the family neighbor, future Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance. This is where she perfected a helluva nasty curve ball. When she was a mere 17 years old, Joe Engel, the president and owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, a Class AA minor league team, signed her to play the entire 1931 season. Publicity stunt, who knows? Jackie didn't care. She was going to get the chance to play big league ball with the boys. And did she ever. On April 2nd, 1931 she faced the visiting New York Yankees. Yep, you heard me. The Yankees. The most legendary team in baseball history. And what did she do? She struck out the Sultan of Swat on two swings and a called shot. But that wasn't good enough. She then took on the Iron Horse himself Lou Gehrig and fanned him down swinging on three. These are the two crushers who combined for 90 homeruns the year before!

Two thirds of an inning was this gal's professional career. Two thirds of a moment in time to make herself a legend. Not even fifiteen minutes of fame placed her in the annals of baseball history forever. And in our hearts for even longer. This small slip of a Southern girl took down two of baseball's finest. And now, that we are coming upon the anniversary of this amazing feat, I think we need to sit back and admire her. Not only the courage that she showed to face these men, but the woman herself. Babe Ruth was notoriously nasty about his views of women in baseball. And young Jackie put it all aside to do what she loved.

What if each of us took this example and put it to use in our own lives? Whether it be personally or professionally, who cares? Face your fears. Forget about what everyone says you can and can't do. Find your bucket list and point to the first thing you see and just do it. Go up against the Babe, throw as hard as you can, and brush him back off the plate. Because, as Jackie Mitchell showed us almost 78 years ago, anything is possible if you just believe in yourself!

"There's no crying in baseball!"

Leigh