Published: Jan 28, 2015, 10:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 31, 2015, 04:13 PM (IST)
In 1932, Don Bradman went to United States in an attempt to save the waning popularity of cricket. The tour was the brainchild of Australian leg-spinner Arthur Mailey. Bradman was billed as the ‘Babe Ruth of cricket’. However that would be the other way in countries who even moderately followed cricket, Ruth would have been surely called the ‘Bradman of Baseball.’
The year was an eventful one for Bradman, as he married his long-time girlfriend Jessie and later had minor tiffs with cricket authorities for being the target of Bodyline. However, coming back to his US trip. In New York, Bradman was warmly greeted by Ruth in the latter’s private box in the Yankee Stadium.
On the sidelines of a Yankees game. Ruth had said Bradman, “Us little fellows could hit them harder than the big ones.” He patiently explained him about the game thinking Bradman had no clue about what’s going on. What followed, stumped Ruth.
Andy Bull in a column in Guardian writes: “Bradman, looking sharp in his three-piece suit, was supposed to have said at one point ‘Jove! A double-play!’ The turn of phrase suggests a little licence on the part of the reporter, but still. ‘Hey! What’s this?’ Ruth is supposed to have shot back. ‘I was told to point out the tricks of the game and you holler ‘double-play’? You don’t need any teaching!’
Bradman knew all about baseball, he followed the game keenly in Sydney. Rarely Ruth has been so surprised.
