The old saying “Behind Every Great Man Stands A Great
Women” has certainly proven true over the years as 500 Home Run Club® members’
spouses supported their men – before and after they became stars – through the
good and lean years, and helped them to cope with the pressures and
responsibilities that came with being amongst the greatest sluggers in MLB
history.
Ernie and Liz Banks are one of MLB’s most widely
recognized and successful husband and wife teams, parlaying a love of the game
and dynamic people skills into a wide variety of business and philanthropic
ventures. In addition to being
president of the 500 Home Run Club®, Liz also manages Ernie’s globe-trotting
schedule of appearances and endorsements as he continues his post-baseball role
as “Mr. Cub” and worldwide ambassador for baseball. The duo also established the Ernie Banks Live Above & Beyond Foundation to promote social welfare by
supporting programs that enhance underprivileged neighborhoods, eliminate
prejudice and relieve discrimination. Their foundation works with many organizations including First Lady
Michelle Obama's LET’S MOVE! campaign
the first nationwide public-health effort aimed at tackling childhood obesity.
The first person Jim Thome looked for after circling the
bases following his 500th Home Run (on Jim Thome Bobblehead Day at U.S.
Cellular Field in Chicago, November 16, 2007) was his wife Andrea. The man
known as “The Thomenator” demonstrated he’s really a softy at heart, especially
when he it comes to his better half. “I knew she was the one instantly. I'm
very blessed. She's awesome.” Off
the field, “Big Jim” makes his wife proud by actively supporting numerous
charitable causes and was chosen as The Sporting News “No. 1 MLB Good Guy” in
2005 for his fundraising efforts in his native Peoria, IL.
It’s only fitting th at Hank Aaron’s wife Billye is as
strong and successful as her Hall-of-Fame husband. Amongst her considerable
career achievements is serving as a TV show host in Atlanta and Milwaukee, as
well as teaching at the high school and college level for over a
decade. She went on to become one of the premiere fundraisers for the United
Negro College Fund and eventually retired in 1994 as Vice President of the
Southern Region. She and Hank also founded the “Hank Aaron Chasing the
Dream Foundation,” a philanthropic trust that makes grants to pre-teen children to assist them in
developing their special talents and chasing their dreams.
Of course, the first and arguably most famous 500HRC member was George Herman “Babe” Ruth. After his first wife Helen died
in 1929, Babe married the woman who would remain with him for the rest of his
life Claire Hodgson. An intelligent, energetic, confident and very
self-assured woman, Claire married Babe a day before Opening Day at Yankee
Stadium. After their marriage, she quickly introduced much-needed
discipline into Babe's life. She became Ruth’s personal manager, monitoring
everything from his outrageous spending sprees to his exercise and eating
habits. Babe also acquired an instant family, which included Babe's
adopted daughter Dorothy from his marriage with Helen, his newly-adopted
daughter Julia from his marriage to Claire and Claire's mother and two brothers
from Athens, Georgia. Babe finally had the big family he had always wanted.
And you’ve gotta love a wo man who goes to bat for her man
in the press, which is precisely what Megan Thomas did when she said her hubby “Big Frank” Thomas is "first-ballot, in my
eyes," and not only as a future Hall of Fame ballplayer.“ "I have
never had Frank around this much. I am pleasantly surprised and he has been an
remarkable dad, very involved." she said. "He's calm. He's different and he
grew up, honestly. It's unbelievable. When I had the baby (Frank
Edward Thomas III), I didn't know what to expect. I mean, he had been gone
(playing baseball) for so many years, so I didn't know. He has more than
surpassed my expectations as a dad, so it is awesome."
Another woman who married a pinstripe icon was Merlyn
Mantle. In 1996, she co-authored a memoir, "A Hero All His Life," in
which she recalled meeting the Yankee star while he was still attending
Commerce High School in Oklahoma, and she was a cheerleader at the arch-rival Picher
H.S. They had their first date in 1949, at the historic Coleman Movie Theatre
on Route 66 in Miami, OK. "I developed an instant crush on Mickey
Mantle, and by our second or third date, I was in love with him and always
would be," she wrote. |