The "A Swing And A Prayer" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Naturally, watching a ball game on TV.  Guy hits a home run and as he crosses home plate he looks up and points toward the sky.  I'm sure you've seen that before if you are a sports fan. Just doesn't happen in baseball, but in all sports and at all levels.  I saw a few little leaguers pointing toward the sky during last year's Little League World Series.

The original film clip of Babe Ruth pointing toward the fence.
Was it to ask for help in his at bat?  He did hit it over the fence.
Exactly where he pointed!

Did all this heaven pointing actually begin when Babe Ruth made a pointing gesture in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series.  During that time at bat it looked as if he was pointing toward the outfield fence, but could he have been asking for divine power while pointing toward the fence?  Could he have been the first person to ask for divine intervention while playing sports?  I guess we will never know, but today's athletes are definitely pointing to the heavens to offer hope or a "Thank You" for a good hit.  

Baseball player pointing after getting a hit.

Used to be that athletes were sensitive about their faith, but that has begun to change.  More athletes are willing to share some of that side of their life with the public.  I believe that some overdo it with all the fist pumping toward the sky or the kisses they send towards the heavens, but that's my opinion.  I can remember playing baseball for many years and saying a little prayer when it was my time to bat.  

Soccer player pointing and looking skyward after a goal.

Never asked for a particular type of hit, like a home run, but did pray that God would help me to do my best and if my best was to strikeout, well I guess the pitcher must have prayed harder than me!  I can remember seeing pitchers, before they stepped on the mound to begin pitching, bow their head in prayer, cross themselves and then prepare to pitch to the batter.  Do they do better because of what they have done?  Perhaps not, but maybe they would have done a whole bunch worse if they hadn't said their prayer.  I recently read a story about our local professional baseball team, the Lancaster Barnstormers.  

Even golfers give thanks for a good shot.

Many of the players belonged to a Bible study group that met a few times a week during the season.  Being away from family and friends and on the road half of the season can take a toll on anyone and the players use the Bible study group to help them get through the tough times.  The article also told of a few players who through different ways would  ask for God's help.  One pitcher said he had a quote that he would say just before he began pitching when he quietly said to himself, 'Do your best and let God do the rest.'  He had the quote on a little card that he had in the inside brim of his hat and looked at it regularly.  At the end of the day he said, "You got to remember 'He's' the one that gave you the athletic ability."  What's your take on all of this?   It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

PS - For many of my readers from countries around the world who may not be Christians, but of another faith, I suppose there may be ways that your athletes pay tribute to their higher being just the same as Christians do with the finger pointing.  I suppose they too do it for much the same reasons as my story mentioned.