Great Bambino … Sultan of Swat … steelworker?
Indeed, Babe Ruth, the legendary player who would go on to hit 714 home runs in Major League Baseball, experienced a brief period as a steelworker during the early phase of his career. What prompted his transition to Bethlehem Steel in Lebanon, Pennsylvania? This career shift was instigated by a U.S. government directive known as the Work-or-Fight Order during World War I: Eligible men were required either to register for the draft or secure essential employment – such as at a steel mill. However, there was a loophole for Major League players like Ruth. Bethlehem Steel operated its own baseball league and was eager to hire professional athletes, ostensibly for war-related jobs but primarily to enhance the competitiveness of its league. This intriguing narrative was recently uncovered in a book published earlier this year titled Work, Fight, or Play Ball, authored by Pennsylvania journalist William Ecenbarger.
“We didn’t know how long the war was going to last,” Ecenbarger remarks. “There were concerns about being drafted. The most obvious escape was to play ball for one of the shipyards or steel mills.”
Players who took this route included not only Ruth but also fellow legends like Shoeless Joe Jackson and Rogers Hornsby. About 45 active Major Leaguers and around 30 retired players took part.
Bethlehem Steel had both the financial means and the incentive, as business thrived due to wartime contracts for ships to transport troops to Europe. Owner Charles Schwab – not to be confused with the financial-services expert – founded the Bethlehem Steel League in 1917 to entertain the growing workforce. Initially, its six teams were made up entirely of steelworkers, but the issuance of the Work-or-Fight Order in May 1918 led to a mass influx from the majors.
Most players gravitated toward the Bethlehem Steel League, while others joined the competing Delaware River Shipbuilding League, which was also connected to Schwab.
“It’s difficult to generalize the motivations of the players,” Ecenbarger observes. “Some genuinely wished to contribute to the war effort.”
Shoeless Joe falls into that category. Despite later being embroiled in the Black Sox scandal the following year, Ecenbarger credits Jackson with attending his job as a painter and engaging in fundraising for the war effort during his time off. However, he adds, “The vast majority likely wanted to steer clear of the draft and avoid going to France.”
Ruth and his Boston Red Sox teammates had received draft exemptions due to their participation in the 1918 World Series, as did their opponents, the Chicago Cubs. Following the Red Sox’s triumph in the series, Ruth took up work at the Bethlehem Steel mill in Lebanon, where he rented an apartment and purchased a new Scripps-Booth roadster.
It was also advantageous that Bethlehem Steel offered higher salaries to the ballplayers compared to regular employees.
“I’m sure there was considerable resentment among the regular workers,” Ecenbarger notes. “It’s hard to quantify. There isn’t much documented about this league.”
The author resides not far from Lebanon. Thirty-five years ago, while walking his dog past an abandoned amusement park from the turn of the century, he spotted a sign that read “Babe Ruth Field.” He reached out to the Lebanon County Historical Society: “He never played here, did he?” “Oh yes, he did.” The society claimed to possess Ruth’s old jersey, featuring only the words “Beth Steel” – as uniform numbers were not in use back then. This memory stayed with Ecenbarger. A few years later, his wife encouraged him to write a book about the Steel League.
Ecenbarger explored library biographies of the key figures – including Ruth,
Hornsby and Jackson are central figures, yet information regarding the Steel League remains limited. A visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum offered little in the way of insight. However, newspapers from 1917 and 1918 proved to be quite informative. During a time when baseball reigned as the national pastime, unchallenged by football, basketball, or hockey, and with journalism as the primary media source, these detailed game summaries became invaluable.
This book delves into the intricate role of baseball in American society during the war years. The author notes that Americans faced societal pressure to “do one’s bit,” and those who hesitated were branded as “slackers.” Players engaged in mock military exercises at ballparks, wielding bats in place of rifles.
Some Major League players enlisted in the military. Ecenbarger estimates this number at around 250, which included future Hall of Famers like Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
“Cobb was often regarded as the greatest player of the game,” Ecenbarger explains. “He had three young children and a deferment but enlisted nonetheless, joining a unit known for its high risk, the Army Chemical Warfare Division, which countered poison gas attacks. Christy Mathewson, who served alongside Cobb, suffered from gas exposure in France, which ultimately ended his career. Grover Cleveland Alexander, the star pitcher for the Cubs, missed the World Series due to his service in France.”
Shoeless Joe Jackson had three brothers serving overseas, along with a wife, two other siblings, and a widowed mother relying on him for support. In the spring of 1918, Jackson’s draft board in South Carolina revoked his exemption status.
“Other Major Leaguers remarked that if they could draft Joe Jackson, they could draft anyone,” Ecenbarger notes.
In a groundbreaking move, Jackson departed from the White Sox to join a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel – the Delaware-based Harlan & Hollingsworth Shipbuilding Company. He joined their Wilmington team.
“Shoeless Joe Jackson once mentioned that hitting in the Bethlehem Steel League was tougher than in the American League,” Ecenbarger states. “The caliber of players was notably high, with teams from central Pennsylvania and Wilmington frequently attracting larger crowds than the Philadelphia Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies.”
During that summer, Ruth maintained his position with the Red Sox. At that time, he was celebrated primarily as a remarkable pitcher, not yet the power hitter he would become. The war and the emergence of the Steel League altered his trajectory. As teammates left for various reasons, the shorthanded Red Sox moved Ruth to the outfield, where he shone with his exceptional home-run hitting, a rarity for the time.
In the World Series, Ruth pitched a shutout in the first game. Reflecting the patriotic fervor of the era, the Star-Spangled Banner was played during the seventh-inning stretch. Although Ruth saw his record streak of scoreless innings end in Game 4, he and the Red Sox triumphed, winning the championship. Following this, he braced himself for his new “career” as a steelworker, specifically as a blueprint messenger.
While on the Bethlehem Steel payroll, Ruth did not deliver any blueprints. He participated in only one exhibition game for Lebanon. In the eighth inning, with no outs and runners on second and third, he received an intentional walk, disappointing the crowd as the pitcher managed to escape the inning unscathed.
Ecenbarger interviewed two locals who remembered Ruth for a Sunday magazine piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer during the late 1980s.
“Both recalled that Babe Ruth did no work at the steel mill,” Ecenbarger shares. “He would arrive at the mill dressed in expensive attire, spend an hour chatting about baseball, and then leave.”
Other players began to make plans to join Ruth in the Steel League, while Major League Baseball chose to cancel the 1919 season.
“The players from the Red Sox and Cubs … after the World …”
“They began transitioning into the Bethlehem Steel League,” Ecenbarger remarks. “There was a prevailing belief that the war would persist.”
However, the conflict came to a close in November. The 1919 season resumed as planned, and during that year, the Steel League disbanded while major leagues set a new attendance record.
“Some people questioned the fate of the players who had moved to the Bethlehem Steel League,” Ecenbarger explains. “There were suggestions that they should face a lifetime ban from baseball. Yet, the owners quickly recognized the necessity of having their star players return. Ultimately, everyone came back.”
Jackson, however, was ultimately banned from baseball permanently—not due to the Steel League, but because of his involvement in the Black Sox scandal.
“He was unaware that some of his actions would be viewed unfavorably,” Ecenbarger reflects. “He was easily influenced.” Nevertheless, the author notes, “Based on everything I have learned about him while working in the shipyard and steel mill, he toiled diligently … He genuinely attempted to contribute to the war effort—‘do his bit,’ as they say.”
Babe Ruth’s Unexpected Career Change: From Home Runs to Steelworker During WWI
The Transition: Babe Ruth’s Shift from Baseball to Industry
Babe Ruth, often celebrated as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, is known for his remarkable home run record and charismatic presence on the field. However, during World War I, Ruth faced a surprising career change that saw him shifting from hitting home runs to working as a steelworker. This unique chapter in his life provides insight into the era’s societal dynamics and the impact of the war on American sports figures.
Background: The Early Life of Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. His early life was marked by hardship, spending much of his childhood in a reformatory school, where he developed a passion for baseball. By the time he made his Major League debut in 1914, Ruth was already on the path to becoming a sports legend. However, the onset of World War I in 1914 would soon alter his trajectory.
World War I and Its Impact on American Life
The United States entered World War I in April 1917. The war effort required resources and manpower, leading to significant changes in various industries. As a result, young men were drafted into military service, while many others sought jobs in factories to support the troops. Babe Ruth, despite his fame, found himself amid this upheaval.
Babe Ruth’s Steelworking Experience
In 1918, Babe Ruth took an unexpected turn away from baseball. Due to the war effort, he decided to work in a steel mill. This decision was partly influenced by his desire to help the war effort and the need for financial security during an uncertain time. His experiences as a steelworker were both challenging and enlightening.
The Steel Mill Environment
- Physical Demands: Working in a steel mill was physically demanding. Ruth engaged in heavy labor, which was a drastic change from his life as a professional athlete.
- Skill Development: Ruth learned valuable skills while operating machinery and working alongside other laborers, broadening his understanding of industrial work.
- Community Engagement: His presence in the steel mill fostered a sense of camaraderie among workers, as they shared the common goal of supporting the war.
Benefits of Ruth’s Steelworking Experience
The experience of working in the steel industry had several positive outcomes for Babe Ruth:
- Building Resilience: The rigorous working conditions helped strengthen Ruth’s physical and mental resilience, qualities that would benefit him in his baseball career.
- Connection with Blue-Collar Workers: The experience allowed Ruth to connect with the working class, fostering a deeper appreciation for their contributions to society.
- Influence on Future Generations: Ruth’s shift to steelworking serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by athletes during the war, influencing how future athletes approached their careers.
Case Study: Ruth’s Return to Baseball
After the war, Babe Ruth returned to baseball with renewed vigor. His experiences as a steelworker had changed him, both personally and professionally. He went on to achieve immense success with the Boston Red Sox and later the New York Yankees, becoming a cultural icon in the process.
Key Statistics from Ruth’s Baseball Career
| Year | Team | Home Runs | Batting Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | Boston Red Sox | 4 | .231 |
| 1920 | New York Yankees | 54 | .376 |
| 1927 | New York Yankees | 60 | .356 |
| 1932 | New York Yankees | 41 | .373 |
First-Hand Experiences of Babe Ruth’s Steelworking
Ruth’s brief stint as a steelworker was recounted by several contemporaries who remembered his humor and determination. These anecdotes provide a glimpse into Ruth’s character during this transformative period:
- Humor in Hardship: Many workers recalled Ruth lightening the mood with his jokes, making the grueling workday more bearable.
- Leadership: Ruth naturally took on a leadership role, earning respect from fellow workers and demonstrating a strong work ethic.
Practical Tips for Emulating Ruth’s Resilience
While Babe Ruth’s career shift was unique, the resilience and adaptability he demonstrated can be applied to various life situations. Here are some practical tips inspired by Ruth’s journey:
- Embrace Change: Be open to new experiences that may initially seem daunting.
- Work Hard: Whether in sports or any career, dedication and hard work are essential for success.
- Stay Connected: Build relationships with peers, as collaboration and support can enhance personal growth.
Conclusion: A Legacy Beyond Baseball
Babe Ruth’s unexpected career change during World War I serves as a powerful reminder of the tumultuous times that shaped American society. His ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity not only defined his career but also left an enduring legacy that transcends the baseball diamond. Ruth’s journey from home runs to steelworking remains a fascinating chapter in the story of one of America’s most beloved sports figures.
