<P> In the 1948 biographical film The Babe Ruth Story, Ruth delivers on a promise he made to a young cancer patient that he would hit a home run . Not only does Ruth succeed in fulfilling the promise, but the child is subsequently cured of his cancer . </P> <P> In an early scene in the 1984 film, The Natural, a Ruth - like player called "the Whammer" points his bat menacingly toward and past Roy Hobbs, declaring his own "called shot ." However, Hobbs strikes the Whammer out on three pitches . </P> <P> Major league slugger Jim Thome used a similar bat - pointing gesture as part of his normal preparation for an at - bat . </P> <P> In the 1989 film Major League, the climax of the movie depicts Indians catcher Jake Taylor pointing towards the outfield, clearly making a reference to Ruth's called shot . Fittingly, Jake was playing against the New York Yankees . The pitcher then throws a pitch high and inside, referencing Root's suggestion that he would have thrown at Ruth if he had really called his shot . Jake repeats the called shot, but instead of going for a home run, bunts the next pitch for a modified squeeze play, allowing the winning run to come in from second base . </P>

What did babe ruth call his baseball bat