Babe Ruth Was A Righty... Well, At Least He Wrote Right Handed

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Posted By: Brad Green

My SCD arrived in the mail today. On the back cover, I noticed a great old photograph of Babe Ruth signing autographs for all the kids. What caught me by surprise is that the Babe was signing the autographs with his right hand. Did anyone else know that the Babe wrote right-handed even though he slugged 714 home runs while batting left-handed?

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Brad

I was aware of this a long time ago when I acquired a Ruth autograph; and, the
first thing I noticed that his signature did not have the usual left-handed slant of
a "lefty". It was then I noticed in an old movie that he was indeed signing with
his right hand.

Otherwise, we all know he was a "southpaw" pitcher and of course he batted from
the left side......he was definitely "ambidexterous"....in fact some of the greatest
athletes in all sports have been, too.

T-Rex TED

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Posted By: Griffin's

Babe went to a Jesuit school (Brother Mathias was his mentor). I don't know if this was the case, but I know being left handed was discouraged even into the early '70's, especially in Christian schools. My grandfather was forced to write right handed, and I had a few teachers that tried to get me to switch, especialy in catechism. I suspect this is why Ruth wrote right handed.

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

"..he was definitely "ambidexterous"....in fact some of the greatest
athletes in all sports have been, too."


Ted,

Once saw Whitey Ford at an autograph event and he too signed with his right hand.

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Posted By: RayPiskadlo

Wow, I never realized it until you said it... here's the proof (took the photo myself maybe 5 years ago):

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Posted By: joe brennan

I'm a lefty too and had an old friend of the family (born in 1894) tell me that the teachers in his day slapped your hand with a ruler if you tried to write left handed. If that didn't work they tied your left hand behind your back. They'd get arrested for that today. LOL. I remember those table top desk and chair combos that you slid into from the left side. It almost forced a lefty to write upside down to be comfortable and have your hand rest on the desk.

People said it was a million dollar wound. But the government must keep that money, cause I ain't never seen a penny of it.