On October 31st, 1932, Babe Ruth made history.

The Yankees and the Cubs were in the World Series and the Babe had something to prove. When he was in the outfield, the Cubs threw fruits, vegetables and anything else they could at him. Babe only smiled as they brought the insults.

Harvey Frommer writes,

When he came to bat in the fifth inning, Ruth had already slugged a three run homer into the bleachers in right centerfield. He had more in store. Right-hander Charlie Root got a strike on Ruth, who as accounts go, raised up one big finger and yelled “strike one!”

Another fast ball strike. Ruth, as the story continues, raised two fingers and bellowed “strike two!”

Then as the story has been handed down, the 38-year-old Yankee legend stepped out of the batter’s box and pointed. Some said he pointed at Root; others said the pointed at the Chicago bench, others said at the centerfield bleachers.

“To tell the truth,” Joe McCarthy said, “I didn’t see him point anywhere at all. But maybe I turned my head for a moment.”

“The Babe pointed out to right field,” said George Pipgras who pitched and won that game, “and that’s where he hit the ball.”

The count was 2-2 when Babe swung from his heels. Johnny Moore, the Chicago centerfielder started back, then stopped. The ball disappeared into the right field bleachers, 436 feet from home plate, the 15th and last World Series home run for Babe Ruth, the longest home run ever hit to that point in time in Wrigley Field.

“As I hit the ball,” Ruth would say later, “every muscle in my system, every sense I had, told me that I had never hit a better one, that as long as I lived nothing would ever feel as good as this one.”

Chicago fans cheered and applauded the Babe as he rounded the bases yelling out a different curse for each Cub infielder. When the “Sultan of Swat” reached third base, he paused. Then he bowed toward the Chicago dugout. Then he came across home plate.

Through the years the debate has continued. Did he or did he not call the home run?

Babe Ruth explained:
“I didn’t exactly point to any spot like the flagpole. I just sorta waved at the whole fence, but that was foolish enough. All I wanted to do was give the thing a ride… outta the park… anywhere. “Every time I went to the bat the Cubs on the bench would yell ‘ Oogly googly.’It’s all part of the game, but this particular inning when I went to bat there was a whole chorus of oogly googlies. The first pitch was a pretty good strike, and I didn’t kick. But the second was outside and turned around to beef about it. As I said, Gabby Hartnett said ‘Oogly googly.’ That kinda burned me and I said ‘All right, you bums, I’m gonna knock this one a mile.’ I guess I pointed, too.”

Recently, I have felt the need to boldly “call the shot” that God has been showing me. A few weeks ago, I sat down with someone and “called a shot” that had been stirring in me. It was a big, bold dream. You know what? I believe we will hit that home run sooner than even I thought. Today, I had a meeting that just might be the warm-up pitch for the homerun.

Abs, Carolyn and I met today to map out our next two message series and we privately called some big shots. Pretty soon, we will call them publicly. Then, we are going to hit them out of the park. The game is on! We are not practicing anymore. This is not T-ball we are playing. This is the big leagues.

This year at The ROCK is going to be incredible. Do you believe enough in who you are and what God is doing through you that you can call the shot? When you do, there is no backing out.

Go ahead. Call it. I dare you.