Walter “Christy” Walsh was Babe Ruth’s agent and also operated the Christy Walsh Syndicate which employed several well known sportswriters, including Damon Runyon, Bozeman Bulger, and Ford Frick, to ghost write articles for Ruth and other players.
Christy Walsh
In 1927, an article under Ruth’s byline appeared in several newspapers during the summer of 1927, as Ruth was in the process of hitting 60 home runs:
“Here’s a tip to hitters.
“Take it from one who knows. There’s no percentage in going up there to the platter and swinging from your heels trying to park the ball over the fence.
“Home run hitting is fine and it gives you a real kick when you smack one, but 99 out of a hundred hitters ruin themselves when they try too hard.”
Ruth, or the Ruth surrogate, compared it to “pressing in golf.”
Babe Ruth
And he said:
“The real hitter is the chap who steps up there with a short swing and plenty of wrist, and meets the ball.”
Don’t emulate him, he said:
“When you’re trying to improve your hitting take your tip from chaps like Eddie Collins, Joey Sewell, or Ty Cobb. These fellows have real hitting form.”
Ruth said:
“I get paid for making home runs and hitting balls a long way. So I have to stay up there swinging. But if I didn’t, I’d change my form tomorrow. I’d go up there flat footed like Eddie and Joey and I’d take a short swing instead of a long one.
“I wouldn’t make so many home runs but I bet I’ll add a hundred points to my batting average for the season.”
He concluded the lesson:
“Home runs are pretty things to watch and now and then they win ball games, but the real hitter is the chap who can step up there and get his two singles every game. He’s the one to take as your example.”
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