--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a…" description: "\"I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf. He got the game moving. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg" --- # I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than… ![“I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf. He got the game moving. But I can't believe he could run as well as (Willie) Mays, and I can't believe he was any better an outfielder.” quote by Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg) > “I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf. He got the game moving. But I can't believe he could run as well as (Willie) Mays, and I can't believe he was any better an outfielder.” [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses surprise that Babe Ruth excelled beyond Willie Mays in overall impact, comparing Ruth’s influence on baseball to Arnold Palmer’s on golf, while doubting Ruth’s speed and fielding compared to Mays. **In simple terms:** Speaker doubts Ruth’s athleticism but praises his transformative impact. Key Takeaway Recognize different strengths of athletes. Themes sports history comparison legacy Mood reflective analytical Type comparative evaluative When to use this quote - baseball analysis - golf analogy - historical debate - player evaluation Key Concepts impact skill athleticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure a player’s overall contribution? - What aspects of a player’s game matter most to you? A Different Perspective Ruth’s influence may be overstated in some aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arnold-palmer/) [Babe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babe/) [Babe ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babe-ruth/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Baseball Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball-arnold-4073175/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Better Outfielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-outfielder-4073174/) [Better player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-player/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Outfielders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outfielders/) [Pitching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitching/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruth/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Willie mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willie-mays/) ## Related quotes > [But this is the point I want to make: When you talk about steroids and you talk about what it means to the game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-fisk/but-this-is-the-point-i-want-to-make-when-you-talk-about-steroids-and/) [Carlton Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-fisk/) > [“Hey, manager... Some kid must have left his glove here... It has his name on it... See? Right here... Willie Mays... He wrote his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/hey-manager-some-kid-must-have-left-his-glove-here-it-has-his-name-on/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Oscar Charleston was the Willie Mays of his day. Nobody ever played center field better than Willie Mays. Suppose they had never given Willie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/oscar-charleston-was-the-willie-mays-of-his-day-nobody-ever-played/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [If I'm compared to Babe Ruth or Willie Mays, that's great. But I'm just going to go out there and be myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr-2/if-i-m-compared-to-babe-ruth-or-willie-mays-that-s-great-but-i-m-just/) [Ken Griffey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr-2/) > [You will only find the happiness you seek when you drop your negative attitude towards life, embrace life and be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-brown/you-will-only-find-the-happiness-you-seek-when-you-drop-your-negative/) [Leon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-brown/) > [One reason outfielders don't have stronger arms might be they don't practice as much as we did. Most teams today don't take outfield practice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kaline/one-reason-outfielders-don-t-have-stronger-arms-might-be-they-don-t/) [Al Kaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kaline/) > [I always could hit, but fielding I had to work at. I took as much pride in fielding as hitting. I became a complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kell/i-always-could-hit-but-fielding-i-had-to-work-at-i-took-as-much-pride/) [George Kell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kell/) > [So the difference between goalkeepers and outfielders is the little, tiny, minute details which are the difference and when they go against you, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/so-the-difference-between-goalkeepers-and-outfielders-is-the-little/) [Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/) > [“My heart went into triple time, like that burst you get when you realize the ball is going over the heads of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/my-heart-went-into-triple-time-like-that-burst-you-get-when-you/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [I've always - outside of the outfielders running over the hump, and it could be slightly dangerous, and it can impact play; of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/i-ve-always-outside-of-the-outfielders-running-over-the-hump-and-it/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [The phrase 'off with the crack of the bat', while romantic, is really meaningless, since the outfielder should be in motion long before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dimaggio/the-phrase-off-with-the-crack-of-the-bat-while-romantic-is-really/) [Joe DiMaggio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dimaggio/) > [It took him 75 steps to get from third to home. I thought we were going to have to go out there and help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/it-took-him-75-steps-to-get-from-third-to-home-i-thought-we-were/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [I'm more conscious of where the outfielders are playing when I'm on base, and I don't take such wide turns anymore running around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-carew/i-m-more-conscious-of-where-the-outfielders-are-playing-when-i-m-on/) [Rod Carew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-carew/) > [I remember one spring when I was doing the team's telecasts, Bob Allison was with me, and we were walking through the clubhouse in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmon-killebrew/i-remember-one-spring-when-i-was-doing-the-team-s-telecasts-bob/) [Harmon Killebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmon-killebrew/) > [The test of an outfielder's skill comes when he has to go against the fence to make a catch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dimaggio/the-test-of-an-outfielder-s-skill-comes-when-he-has-to-go-against-the/) [Joe DiMaggio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dimaggio/) ## More by Sandy Koufax > [I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-became-a-good-pitcher-when-i-stopped-trying-to-make-them-miss-the/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/people-who-write-about-spring-training-not-being-necessary-have-never/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/if-there-was-any-magic-formula-it-was-getting-to-pitch-every-fourth/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [There is among us a far closer relationship than the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we are bound together not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/there-is-among-us-a-far-closer-relationship-than-the-purely-social/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I can't picture people talking about me 50 years from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-picture-people-talking-about-me-50-years-from-now/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don't have to ask anyone or play politics.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-game-has-a-cleanness-if-you-do-a-good-job-the-numbers-say-so-you/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [A guy that throws what he intends to throw, that's the definition of a good pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/a-guy-that-throws-what-he-intends-to-throw-that-s-the-definition-of-a/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [It's better to throw a theoretically poorer pitch whole-heartedly, than to throw the so-called right pitch with feeling of doubt-doubt that's it's right, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/it-s-better-to-throw-a-theoretically-poorer-pitch-whole-heartedly/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/show-me-a-guy-who-can-t-pitch-inside-and-i-ll-show-you-a-loser/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I've got a lot of years to live after baseball and I would like to live them with the complete use of my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-ve-got-a-lot-of-years-to-live-after-baseball-and-i-would-like-to/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I don't think I've ever seen anybody with quicker hands than Soriano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-anybody-with-quicker-hands-than-soriano/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I don’t know if cortisone is good for you or not. But to take a shot every other ball game is more than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-don-t-know-if-cortisone-is-good-for-you-or-not-but-to-take-a-shot/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [The only time I really try for a strikeout is when I'm in a jam. If the bases are loaded with none out, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/the-only-time-i-really-try-for-a-strikeout-is-when-i-m-in-a-jam-if/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [I think it's incredible because there were guys like (Willie) Mays and (Mickey) Mantle and Henry Aaron who were great players for ten years...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-think-it-s-incredible-because-there-were-guys-like-willie-mays-and/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [If I could straighten it out (his golf swing), I'd be pitching at Dodger Stadium tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/if-i-could-straighten-it-out-his-golf-swing-i-d-be-pitching-at-dodger/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) [Explore all 20 Sandy Koufax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) ## More Babe quotes > [ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOU DID ME WRONG SO GUESS WAT BABE??FUKK YU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-you-did-me-wrong-so-guess-wat-babe/) [JESSICA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica/) > [You two faced threw your teeth u ain't nun but babe daddy go wash your feet go with the girl u so call sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrykee/you-two-faced-threw-your-teeth-u-ain-t-nun-but-babe-daddy-go-wash/) [Cherrykee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrykee/) > [“You’re all mine, babe. Knew it the first time I saw you. Couldn’t give you up if I tried.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-wylde/you-re-all-mine-babe-knew-it-the-first-time-i-saw-you-couldn-t-give/) [Joanna Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-wylde/) > [The home run became glorified with Babe Ruth. Starting with him, batters have been thinking in terms of how far they could hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/the-home-run-became-glorified-with-babe-ruth-starting-with-him/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I just hate it when my baby try to chill with some other guy..hunny.!.if u really want to chill then please use A.C. not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/i-just-hate-it-when-my-baby-try-to-chill-with-some-other-guy-hunny-if/) [Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/) > [“My heart slammed into my chest when he called her babe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-elliott/my-heart-slammed-into-my-chest-when-he-called-her-babe/) [Kelly Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-elliott/) > [Wine is the drink of the gods, milk the drink of babes, tea the drink of women, and water the drink of beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-blackie/wine-is-the-drink-of-the-gods-milk-the-drink-of-babes-tea-the-drink/) [John Stuart Blackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-blackie/) > [I need a man who can call me beautiful with no makeup on, who can be himself around me, who can kiss me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk/i-need-a-man-who-can-call-me-beautiful-with-no-makeup-on-who-can-be/) [Idk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idk/) > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/) [Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/) > [Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-as-the-unborn-babe-is-in-the-womb-of-his-mother-these-five-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Babe is one fellow, and I'm another and I could never be exactly like him. I don't try, I just go on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gehrig/the-babe-is-one-fellow-and-i-m-another-and-i-could-never-be-exactly/) [Lou Gehrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gehrig/) > [“Babe, the only times I've been in you have been too fast. The next time I strip you down, I want to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/babe-the-only-times-i-ve-been-in-you-have-been-too-fast-the-next-time/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Cute babe whom I love a lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reynold/cute-babe-whom-i-love-a-lot/) [Reynold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reynold/) [Browse all 528 Babe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf. He got the game moving. But I can't believe he could run as well as (Willie) Mays, and I can't believe he was any better an outfielder.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sandy Koufax" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-better-player-than-willie-mays/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Babe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-better-player-than-willie-mays/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/sandy-koufax-27928_babe_i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-bet_2082295.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can't believe that Babe Ruth was a better player than Willie Mays. (Babe) Ruth is to baseball what Arnold…” — Sandy Koufax", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sandy Koufax", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can't believe that Babe Ruth...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-better-player-than-willie-mays/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/i-can-t-believe-that-babe-ruth-was-a-better-player-than-willie-mays/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```