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Mildred Ella Didrikson was born on June 26, 1914 in Texas in the town of Port Arthur. She was part of a large family and her parents were immigrants of Norway. The correct year of her birth is 1911 which is noted on her tombstone and the baptism certificate. The name of Didriksen acknowledged her as a Norwegian instead of Swedish ancestry. Her father worked hard as a sailor to scrape a living for his family. With the devastation of a hurricane in 1915 that took the lives of 275 people, they moved to Beaumont. The family included her sister and two brothers. Her appearance was that of a tomboy as she was slim and of average height. Most of the time she wore masculine clothing and her hair was cut short like a boy's.
During her years at Beaumont High School she proved herself to be exceptional at a number of sports. These sports included tennis, baseball, basketball, swimming, and volleyball. No other student could match her abilities in the sports arena; therefore, she did not have many friends. Since her personality was different, she found herself in many fights and scrapes. Because of her aggressiveness, her high school team never lost a game. As a teenager, her comment was: "My goal was to be the greatest athlete ever lived."
It was rumored that Didrikson was nicknamed "Babe" early in her teens. She made the comment she was named after Babe Ruth because of her ability to hit long-distance homers. Of course, others disagreed with her story. People felt that her sports ability resembled Ty Cobb instead of Babe Ruth. She frequently alienated teammates and competitors due to her arrogance and her prima donna attitude. As she became older she still remained cocky and overbearing.
On July 16, 1932, she amazed the world with her performance at the track meet in Evanston, Illinois. She scored thirty points and won the national women's team championship as the sole member of the Golden Cyclone team. Believe it or not, Didrikson won six gold metals and broke four world records in one afternoon! In the history of track-and-field for male or female, her feat was the most amazing performance by any individual. Because of her performance, her name appeared on every sports page in the nation. She became one of the most prominent members of the United States Olympic team of 1932.
While traveling with her teammates to Los Angeles for the Olympic Games, she was detested by her teammates. They felt she would stop at nothing to win. They saw her as too aggressive and overbearing. Of course, their feelings did not matter to her because she was a favorite with the sportswriters and the public. During the Olympic Games, she set a world's record and was the co-holder of two others. She also won two gold metals and a silver metal. The press loved her name and it became synonymous with her lasting fame as an athlete.
The Associated Press presented her with Women Athlete of the Year award at the end of 1932. She won this award five times in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, and 1954. Didrikson turned professional in late 1932. In 1932 in Florida, she played on the famous House of David baseball team. A fact associated with this team is that the men on this team had long beards. During the Depression as a result of her many activities, she was able to earn several thousands of dollars each month.
Didrikson decided to try her ability at golf in the mid-1930's. She began intensive lessons in 1933 at the suggestion from sportswriter Grantland Rice. She put so much effort into wanting to learn the sport of golf, that her hands frequently bled from the practice of hitting the balls. In 1935, she won the Texas Women's Amateur Championship. With the United States Golf Association banning her from amateur golf, she was disappointed and bitter. They, in turn, declared her a professional.
Even though she was portrayed as a tomboy, she met George Zaharias in 1938. Zaharias was an extremely handsome man and he swept her off of her feet. His profession was wrestling and he was known as the 'Weeping Greek' from Cripple Creek. Babe married George eleven months later and changed her name to Babe Zaharias. He became her manager and advisor. But as expected, problems arose in the marriage and George soon lost interest in his wife. In the meantime, Babe found a good friend, Betty Dodd. Betty also resembled a tomboy and had no interest in looking feminine. She was a young golfer and a natural athlete. She was a regular guest at Zaharias' home in Tampa.
During 1946, Babe won 13 consecutive tournaments. This is a feat still unequaled by Tiger Woods. In the following year she was the first American woman to win the British Open. This was the first time that an American had won this event. Zaharias, Patty Berg, and Fred Corcoran founded the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 1949. In 1933 she turned pro and won three U.S. Women's Opens and also 55 tournament victories.
Zaharias continued to break down social customs for women in American life. She was very insistent in participating in sports that were dominated by men. Because she was such an outstanding athlete, she succeeded in not conforming to the ladylike image. Rumors and innuendoes regarding her sex and femininity verbally attacked her.
In 1949, Zaharias turned professional and also helped to promote the ladies professional game. She was the first lady professional at a golf club and also founder of the Ladies PGA. In 1951, she was diagnosed with cancer. It was discovered that the cancer had spread into her lymph nodes, which were inoperable. She played in the U.S. Women's Open fourteen weeks later, winning by an incredible 12 strokes. In 1955, the pain in her lower spine, caused by cancer, became unbearable. In Galveston, Texas, on September 27, 1956, Babe succumbed and lost her battle to cancer.
We will remember, "Mildred 'Babe' Didrikson Zaharias, the greatest woman golfer of our time", as the woman who was able to beat the men at their own games. She left her mark on the world with her success and determination to win.
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