Billy Jurges-MLB

Sports' Forgotten Heroes

In the movie, "The Natural", Roy Hobbs is a baseball prodigy. On his way to the minor leagues, he gets sidetracked and is shot by an obsessed fan. Years later, Hobbs surfaces and becomes a star for the fictional New York Knights. There is no definitive answer of whom the life of Roy Hobbs is based upon. However, speculation has always revolved around the careers of Eddie Waitkus who was shot by a woman while he was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. But there's also the career of Billy Jurges who was dating a showgirl, Violet Valli. After breaking up with Valli, she was upset and ultimately shot Jurges in the hotel he was living in. So, whose life is Hobbs based upon? the answer might never be revealed. And while many think it's about Jurges, one thing is certain, while there are similarities, Jurges's career had many more interesting moments. He was a central figure in Babe Ruth's called shot. He is partially responsible for the batting helmet, partially responsible for the nets on the foul poles and he came very close to breaking the MLB record for most hits in a row. He had nine. Jack Bales put pen to paper and took on the task of writing a book about the career of Jurges, "The Chicago Cub Shot For Love." On this episode of SFH, Bales stops by for a terrific conversation about Jurges, The Natural and so much more.