Recently, I wrote in a column about an active Catholic from France named Jules Rimet, who launched the World Cup of Soccer. It is actually amazing how much influence devout Catholics have had on almost every major sport in North America, specifically Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised since the Catholic Church and its members have had so much impact on every aspect of our society (e.g. hospitals, education, and industry).
The Knights of Columbus have an online exhibit called K of C Baseball: An American Story. The imprint that Catholics have had on the foundation of sports is not spoken about much, so here is a brief look at Catholic pioneers in baseball, each of whom is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
- One of Major League Baseball’s most profitable teams for several decades has been the Los Angeles Dodgers. Walter O’Malley was the owner of the Dodgers from 1950 until his death in 1979. He moved the team from Brooklyn to Los Angeles where he built Dodger Stadium, which in turn helped usher in a new financial era for the team and for baseball. The Dodgers won four World Series under O’Malley. He once ordered an 18-foot statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe and he also began a tradition of hosting Catholic nuns to games with all expenses paid. O’Malley and his wife Kay were daily communicants who started the annual Memorial Catholic Mass in spring training.
- Babe Ruth was known as the “Sultan of Swing” due to his ability to hit home runs. In total, he clubbed 714 of them, mostly while playing for the New York Yankees during the 1930s and 40s. Ruth was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and although he demonstrated rather colourful behaviour during his playing career, he credited his Catholic faith with helping him overcome these challenges. “I had a rotten start in life and it took me a long time to get my bearings.” He wore a Miraculous Medal and once said after confession, “What a comforting feeling to be free of fear and worries; I could now simply turn them over to God.” [Mark Massery, The Divine Mercy] He may not have always been a sterling example, but his reconversion was worth noting as God always again shows us his mercy.
- Stan Musial was also a baseball legend in the 40s and 50s and played for the appropriately named St. Louis Cardinals. Unlike Babe Ruth, Musial was known as a tremendous gentleman who always demonstrated great sportsmanship. He was a daily communicant who was married to his wife for 72 years at the time of his death. Both of these indicate a level of love and commitment that was, and is, a tremendous example for young and old alike. Mickey Mantle once said of Musial, “He was a better player than me because he was a better man than me.” [Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, Catholic Register] American Cardinal Timothy Dolan (who grew up in St. Louis) once said, “The only Cardinal I wanted to be was Stan Musial.” [Rocco Palma] He lived a very virtuous lifestyle to a level rarely seen in sports. “He was kind, generous. You could not meet a better person in this world than Stan Musial,” said MLB player and manager Bill Virdon. Is this not how we are all called to live in our ordinary daily life?
- Gil Hodges could be seen praying the Rosary before games. When he entered the military during the Second World War, he gave up his career. When he returned from serving his country, he resumed his career, building a friendship with Jackie Robinson, who before breaking the colour barrier in the Major Leagues began his career with the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers’ Triple-A farm team. There was still great risk in doing this, but this Knight of Columbus showed great loyalty and love, often defending Robinson against aggression by opponents. [Aleteia] Hodges would find Mass in every city. His son stated that “Mass helped give him character and develop his inner strength.” [Aleteia] He was considered a tremendous role model for young men as a peacemaker and as a friend.
- Connie Mack won five World Series titles as a manager, but his success was off the field as well. He was, like Musial, quiet, even-tempered and would never use profanity. Also a Knight of Columbus member, he was involved with baseball for 65 years as a player, manager, and owner. In order to have his team become better people, he developed a code of conduct which included:
- I will never make an excuse to take away from my opponent’s victory.
- I will always conduct myself as a true gentleman.
- I will never gloat in victory.
- I will never judge a person based on race or religion.
These original baseball legends did so much to build the sport of baseball, but in many cases, they built up character in others with the help of their Catholic faith.