On an episode where Felix appeared on a radio program, perhaps substituting for a sports-related bit Oscar usually did, the program told the story of some famous baseball player, I think it was "Babe Ruth and the Kid." Felix, apparently not liking the unhappy ending, changed the story so that penicillin was invented and "little Jimmy" was saved. The program was inundated with calls that he got the story wrong, but they never said what the real story was.

WAS there a real story of "Babe Ruth and the Kid"? Presumably in real life, the kid was sick and passed away after meeting Babe Ruth? Was this an actual incident that every sports fan is supposed to know, or did they invent it for this episode? :confused:

It sure is!!! The Babe went to the hospital and told a kid he would hit a homer that afternoon if the kid promised to get better. He pointed and hit one, and the kid got better. At least, that's the way I heard it.

If that was it, the ending sounds good enough. Wonder why Felix would change it.

The original story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/06/18/2008-06-18_babe_ruths_home_run_vow_to_sick_jersey_b.html

Wow, thanks! So the kid's name was Johnny and penicillin may or may not have helped depending on the nature of the injury (what kind of inflammation was involved.) Amazingly, he recovered (during a time when even the president's son died of an infection due to lack of antibiotics) and lived a successful adult life--was, in fact, alive at the time this program was made. Wonder why Felix would feel the need to invent details for such a happy ending. :confused:

Thinking about it, it seems Felix's version is meant to promote "science" over "faith." Perhaps he was trying to steer kids away from hero-worship and putting too much faith in sports heroes or other popular figures. I found the story touching and, like most people, prefer to believe the Babe really helped the kid.

"Seinfeld" parodied the "promised home run" situation in their Season 7 episode entitled "The Wink"... Kramer visits Yankee Paul O'Neill in the locker room...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tcVPVXGoww

Less than a minute in length, but hilarious.