Patrick Treacy

Imagine if prior to dominating golf, Tiger Woods was a high school hoops champion, won 3 Olympic track medals and was a legendary baseball player as a kid... That's Babe Zaharias, who 98% of modern sports fans have never heard of. So let me tell you about one of the most accomplished, prolific, remarkable athletes ever. And just so you know up top, we're dealing with an athlete who: • won an AAU hoops title • won 3 Olympic track medals • pitched against Major Leaguers • won 10 LPGA majors & 82 tournaments Let's start: Babe Didrikson. Born 1911. Instant athlete. As a kid, prefers to play against boys because they're stronger & faster. Earns the nickname "Babe" after hitting 5 homers in a baseball game. “I don’t see any point in playing...if you don’t win,” she says. And she wins... She dominates softball, but loves basketball. In high school she becomes a 2x All-American in Texas. Leads her team to 3 undefeated seasons. Scores 76 points in a game once. 1931. The Babe wins an AAU hoops title... While she's good at hoops, she's otherworldly at track & field... July 16, 1932: her masterpiece. She competes as a team of one in the amateur championships: Wins 5 of 8 events. In 3 hours. Won the team event herself and is Olympic bound... 1932 Olympics - Los Angeles Babe becomes the only track & field athlete (men or women) to win a medal running, throwing & jumping. Gold - 80m hurdles Gold - javelin throw Silver - high jump She sets 4 world records & becomes an international superstar... Babe is 22 years old. Famous. Loves challenges... Already has the record for longest baseball throw by a woman (to this day). She pitches in exhibition games against MLB players: In one inning she gives up a walk and no hits to the Dodgers. Now onto her best sport... 1935. Babe begins to play golf. She's good... but wants to be great. Practices 10 hours a day until her hands were bloodied according to the NY Times. She wins amateur tournaments. She turns pro. She wins pro tournaments. She helps found the LPGA tour... The Babe has swagger. She enters locker rooms shouting: “The Babe’s here! Who is going to finish second?” Between 1947-48, she wins 14 tournaments in a row. She wins 10 LPGA Majors in 15 years. Becomes a HOFer & the perhaps the greatest female athlete ever... If you're impressed, and you should be, share this post... And if you enjoy reading about fascinating people follow me @Jon_Finkel for more.