When the Babe Ruth of Cricket met the Donald Bradman of Baseball

If you’re an avid fan of adventure and record-breaking shows, you have often heard of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Fascinatingly, apart from being a cricket aficionado, if the history buff hasn’t died in you yet, then you surely relish the surreal charm of the iconic Taj Mahal from India. Both of them are going to become a special part of history on Sunday, June 2, in Dallas.

Now before we further unravel the mystery, year 1844, does it ring in something intriguing about cricket’s lost history? Yes! The year marks the oldest rivalry between two teams in the game’s history. The key reason to bring it up is that this rivalry will extend its wings in the opener of the T20 World Cup 2024, when USA (United States of America) will square off against their familiar opponent, Canada.

The big question unfolds that the world is aware of the upcoming global ICC mega cricket showdown but are American citizens equally aware of the game and the event? Because this is not going to be just another Major League Baseball (MLB) or Super Bowl event. This is making people remember the forgotten history and finding an apt option for Americans to adopt back the lost game in place of Baseball.

As the T20 World Cup 2024 culminates into a new saga of global expansion, there is another side to it that not many people are aware of. One has often heard about the greats of the game who became immortals eventually for their incredible sportsmanship and impact on the game. Consequently, many names sprung up in the process but one name often stands immortal is of none other than Sir Donald Bradman.

While a lot is talked about the legendary Australian, the greatest player to have graced the game, his legacy still stands and connects with the upcoming T20 World Cup. The real question is why and how the man who averages over 99 in the purest format has an interesting history and connection with revolutionising the game of Cricket. On June 2, history beckons as USA will take on their neighbours in what will be their debut World Cup in the T20I format. As a result, fans and cricket experts alike have already started debating on what future the mega cricket carnival will bring for the United States in nearly next one-month span.

The apex cricket governing body has tried oiling all their resources from their Saudi sponsors in making Long Island a special venue. Out of Kazoo, Americans residing in the region have been left amused after they saw Nassau County having a huge structure in the form of an international stadium standing in front of them with little cue on what is going to happen inside. Notably, to get to the venue, fans will need to pass through the billboard of Ripley's along with a structure of the Taj Mahal just outside the stadium.

As the clock is ticking, the Indian community who will be cheering the most popular cricket team in the world, are leaving no stone unturned in promoting and educating USA about the gentleman’s game.

While this attempt seems to have taken a backseat given the adverse weather conditions have plagued the preparations for the marquee event, it is vital to explore the Bradman-T20 World Cup’s special connection to understand why this World Cup holds a special place for USA and the rest of the world.

Don Bradman's special tour of USA and Canada 

In July of the year 1932, a special moment happened in the world of cricket. Sir Donald Bradman married his childhood love Jessie two months earlier and then went on to feature in one of the most debated series in cricket history aka the ‘Bodyline’ series after nearly four months, the ‘Babe Ruth’ of Cricket landed in the United States of America (USA) rather reluctantly. Interestingly enough, the credit for making Bradman tour the superpower nation goes to another Australian stalwart, Arthur Mailey. This unprecedented move was an attempt to revive the fading popularity of Cricket.

Notably, the tour was billed by US as the ‘Babe Ruth of Cricket’ meeting the ‘Don Bradman of Baseball.’ It is worth mentioning here that Bradman was tricked into getting on board the Niagara ship after Mailey called this tour an extended honeymoon period for the newlyweds. Besides, amid playing Canada and US in a few exhibition matches, Sir Don also played a game in the renowned Hollywood against a team of Movie stars with the likes of Ronald Colman, Leslie Howard, Clive Brook and Boris Karloff to name a few. This game was organized with the help of a former England skipper and notable cricketer who took to acting and goes by the name of Aubrey Smith.

Babe Ruth and Sir Donald Bradman’s special meeting

During the two-month-long tour, Sir Don Bradman made a special crossover of cricket and baseball happened. The legend met the New York Yankees legend, Babe Ruth, who was equally adept as Bradman but in the sport of baseball. Hence, he was often regarded as the ‘Don Bradman of baseball.’ This meeting took place in a typical baseball fashion at the Yankees Stadium where both the greats sized each other up on a hilarious note.

Babe Ruth after meeting Donald Bradman was caught off-guard as he used to think that the legendary Aussie must have been hugely built and hence dominated the sport like no one else. But to his amusement, Bradman was way shorter and not a strong-built guy. Ruth who himself measured a staggering six feet two inches was yet to unravel the mystery of Sir Donald Bradman.

“From what they were telling me, I thought you were a husky (big) and strong guy,” Ruth remarked on looking at Bradman.

However, in his unflinching comic comeback which Bradman was known for, told Ruth that short fellows like him can still hit balls better and harder than the bulky guys. Not just that, Bradman further suggested to him not to hit the ball in the air too often.

“But us little fellows can hit them harder than the big ones. Sometimes you don’t have to run when you hit the ball,” Bradman hilariously replied.

Furthermore, as their meeting progressed, Babe Ruth was yet to face a wrong ‘un from the legendary Australian. Thinking that Bradman was not much aware of the game of baseball and how it operates, Ruth at first felt that the legend could barely figure out what was going on the field. But Bradman being a true athlete with brimming knowledge about the game oozed his liquid grace to bamboozle the baseball legend. While Ruth was still explaining the nuances, Bradman suddenly uttered- “Jove! A double-play!”

This left Babe Ruth out of his sorts, as he was forced to drop the murky idea of not understanding the tricks of baseball. If you’re still wondering what happened next? Well, Ruth said that Bradman does not need to be taught about baseball anymore.

“I was told to point out the tricks of the game and you holler ‘double-play’? You don’t need any teaching!” Ruth said in his element of surprise.

The interesting reason for Bradman’s sporting genius was that he used to follow the sport back in Sydney quite keenly. Moreover, Bradman believed that cricket had many similarities with baseball which further helped him grasp the nuances with sheer ease.

Fulfilling of promise by Babe Ruth, End of an era for two greats

Donald Bradman after achieving many laurels, in the later years not only proved to be an efficient and master administrator but also wrote an autobiography on his incredible journey of cricket. In his iconic "Farewell to Cricket” autobiography, Sir Don did not shy away from shedding light on the special USA-Canada tour but also poured out his unfazed thoughts on the ‘Bodyline’ series.

Bradman believed that the tour was quite stressful for him but it was certainly less troublesome than facing the wrath of the controversial ‘bodyline’ strategy devised against his men by England during the 1932-33 Ashes Tour to Australia.

“It had been far too strenuous, but nevertheless it was placid compared with the storm that lay ahead, and of which at that time we had scarcely heard the rumblings,” Bradman wrote recalling the series and the special tour.

Meanwhile, even though the two legends never met again, Babe Ruth had promised Sir Donald Bradman to try his hands at Cricket, which he went on to fulfill, albeit, for a short stint. In the year 1934, while the Bambino aka Babe Ruth was nearly walking towards the sunset of his illustrious baseball career, he featured in 125 baseball matches where he still showed his impeccable scoring consistency. After playing his 34^th season for the renowned Yankees, Ruth set out for a world tour, where he stayed in London. During this halt, he contacted the former Australian cricketer, Alan Fairfax.

After Fairfax taught him the technical aspects of stance and hitting, initially Ruth struggled while batting. But once he switched back to his baseball stance, the genius of clean hitting was portrayed again by the Pinstripes legend as went all guns blazing against the bowlers. Thereafter, while mulling over the idea of taking to cricket, he found that cricket stars were paid a mere 20 pounds as wages which was way less than what he was already earning in baseball. As a result, he dropped the idea to continue playing cricket and went back to the US.

In what can be called a bizarre coincidence, after playing baseball for some considerable time, Babe Ruth retired and just two days before Sir Donald Bradman called it curtains on his legendary cricket career, on August 16, 1948, Ruth breathed his last. On the other side of the globe, Bradman, who needed just another four runs to end his career on a perfect over-a-century average, failed to get going and got dismissed for a duck in his final knock.

Conclusion

Similarly, with the coveted ICC T20 World Cup 2024 commencing tomorrow (Sunday, June 2), modern cricket legends like the star India batter Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma, can surely give their best shot in what could be their last World Cup before they call it time on their incredible careers. Besides, other cricket stars and teams like Australia and England can also contribute greatly to revolutionizing cricket again in the United States. Hence the possible roles of Pat Cummins, and Jos Buttler along with the co-hosts of the T20 World Cup, West Indies, can help expand and bring back the old glory of cricket as a true testament and a fitting tribute to the genius of cricket aka Sir Donald Bradman.