| |
Mildred Ella Didrikson was
one of the greatest female athletes of
all time. She hated hopscotch, jacks
and dolls. After she hit five home runs
in one game with boys, her brothers
nicknamed her “Babe” after the best
baseball player in the world, Babe
Ruth. In 1930, at age 19, she dropped
out of her junior year in high school
to join the basketball team at
Employers Casualty Company of Dallas.
She worked as a secretary to keep her
amateur status. In softball, she had a
batting average greater than .400.
"Babe" Didrikson excelled in track and field, golf, basketball, played
organized baseball and softball. She
won two gold medals in track and field
at the 1932 Summer Olympics, before
turning to professional golf and
winning 10 LPGA major championships. In
1934, Didrikson pitched a total of four
innings in three Major League spring
training exhibition games. She also
spent time with the
House of David barnstorming team.
In 1935, after losing her amateur status, Didrikson signed a contract with
P. Goldsmith Sons company. Under the
terms of the indefinite contact,
Didrikson was to promote the company's
supplies and appear in exhibitions. In
1940 Goldsmith Issued the BD10 "Babe"
Didrikson Official Softball bat. The
first softball bat to carry an
athlete's endorsement. Not until 1968
when the second wooden softball bat was
endorsed by "The King" Eddie Feigner.
Modern day aluminum softball bats were
endorsed by Lisa Fernandez, Jennie
Finch, and Dot Richardson.
|
|
