The Babe And I(Len Daniels) The Babe and I

I began life in the late 19th century as a tiny seed that fell to the ground in one of the many hickory forests in the mountains of Pennsylvania. I lay there for many months, until one spring morning when I felt a gentle tugging at my shell. It broke open, and my tender core was exposed to the bright sunshine. Soon I was clawing at the earth on which I lay, not knowing why but sensing that I was carrying out a predestined purpose that was meant for me when the universe was created.

I grew straight and strong for 60 years through all the rain, drought, snow and wind that nature threw my way. I enjoyed the renewed vigor I felt each spring after the long, hard winters. The roots of my parent tree, now long decayed, nourished my growth so that I might fulfill my purpose.

One bright summer day, three woodsmen came upon my sturdy trunk and began to saw me down. I had no defense against this violation, but somehow I had the feeling that I was about to meet my destiny. Soon I found myself on a trailer-truck heading south, with many other similar trees. Early the next morning, we arrived at the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Company in Kentucky. We were unloaded onto a table with a gigantic circular saw at one end. It made a terrible noise when it was turned on. The workers cut us up into pieces 4" square and 40" long. I made about 300 of these pieces and we all looked alike.

The next day we were all put onto a lathe and turned round and round until we looked like huge toothpicks. Then we were sanded smooth as a baby's bottom, and polished until our grain could not be felt anywhere. We looked like brand-new pennies and felt like a million dollars. We'd been transformed into baseball bats! We were stored in a warm, dry closet.

Our rest was short-lived. The New York Yankees had acquired a few new baseball players and they were demanding new equipment for their sport. We were all boxed up and shipped to New York City. Since I had started out as a lowly little seed among thousands, I couldn't wait to show off how far I'd come in life.

My chance came when a rookie player, name of George Herman Ruth, picked me up and carried me to home plate. Being a lefty, he had a tendency to hit the ball into right field, but today he lifted me up and pointed me directly over the pitcher's head. On the third pitch, the crowd heard the crack when the ball made contact with my "sweet spot," and I knew this would be my shining moment. The ball sailed over the infield straight as an arrow, then over the outfield, and then over the roof of the brand-new Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth and I had accomplished the most renowned moment in the history of the game.

I luxuriated in the splendor of being the Babe's partner for many years after that, and when it came time for my owner to retire, I was kept in a place of honor in his home. He died in the late 1930s and I was given a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, to be viewed and admired by thousands of fans and followers of our national pastime.

Well, that is not the end of the story. On December 2, 2004, I will go on the auction block at Sotheby's, along with many other items of baseball memorabilia, to be sold to the highest bidder, and to endure in my new home for many years to come.

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