Jean L.S. Patrick, Author

The true story behind...

The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth

Growing up with Baseball  |  Uncovering Jackie's Story  |  Writing Jackie's Story

Growing up with Baseball
 

When I was a girl, I loved summer. 

Almost every afternoon, my brothers and I would watch the Chicago Cubs game on television.  We'd yell and scream and jump on the couch, cheering for our favorite players: Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo. 

My dream was to play second base for the Cubs.  Maybe I could help them win a World Series.

But there was a problem . . . .

Even though I could play ball as well as any of the boys in my neighborhood, I was not allowed to play Little League baseball.  Why?  In those days, Little League was only for boys.

I thought about disguising myself as a boy.  Unfortunately, my parents were hopelessly honest.  No way could I get away with a lie.  However, I began to get involved in other sports, such as track, cross-country, and tennis.

I also liked to read.  My favorite place to read was on our front porch.  I'd collapse on my favorite ugly brown chair and read books by Beverly Cleary and Matt Christopher.  I also liked to read on our back porch with one arm around my dog, Luci. 

When I finished high school, I earned degrees in English literature from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.  Although I read Shakespeare and all those famous writers, I still liked children's books best.

Now I'm an author. And you know what? I'm still reading children's books and cheering for the Cubs.    top

Uncovering Jackie's Story

Here's how I got the idea to write The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth.

Several years ago, I read Winning Ways, a children's book by Sue Macy. The book was full of information about women and the history of sports.

On one page, I saw a photograph of a girl throwing a baseball. The caption said that on April 2, 1931, 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Wow! I never knew that this had happened. I told an editor about it, and she asked if I would write a book about Jackie.  top

Writing Jackie's Story

Before I could begin writing, I had to do an enormous amount of research.

I studied old newspapers from 1931.  I talked to historians and sports writers from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  I even called the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

As I researched, I felt like a detective.  What actually happened?  Did 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell really strike out Babe Ruth?

The answer, of course, was "yes."  On a tape of an old newsreel, I watched Jackie pitch to the Babe.  After he struck out, he wasn't very happy.  In fact, he slammed down his bat and yelled at the umpire!

Next, I had to figure out how to write the story. Would I begin the book with Jackie on the mound? Or, would I begin with Jackie signing the contract? How would I make the book interesting?

After I finished writing, my editor asked me to revise the story. I changed the beginning. I added exciting facts. I subtracted boring details. 

Believe it or not, it took three years for me to write The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth!

Even though the book required lots of work, I enjoyed learning about the girl who had the talent and courage to become a great baseball player.     top