“Evvery strike brings me closer to my/the next home run” is an inspirational quotation that has been credited to New York Yankees famed home run champion George Herman “Babe” Ruth (1895-1948). Babe Ruth had plenty of strikeouts along with his many home runs. The saying means that failure will lead to success; however, failure is no guarantee of success in most cases.
 
“Every time I get a strike, I’m one swing closer to the next home run” was cited in print in 1996—well after Babe Ruth’s lifetime. There is insufficient evidence that he said the quotation that is attributed to him.
 
     
Wikiquote: Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth (6 February 1895 – 16 August 1948) was an American Major League Baseball player from 1914 to 1935, named as the greatest baseball player in history in various surveys and rankings. His career record of 714 home runs stood for 39 years until surpassed by Hank Aaron with 755 home runs in 1974.
 
Quotes
Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.
. As quoted in Weird Ideas That Work : 11 1/2 practices for promoting, managing, and sustaining innovation (2001) by Robert I. Sutton, p. 95
     
Google Books
Resolving Environmental Conflict Towards Sustainable Community Development
By Chris Maser and Carol A. Pollio
Delray Beach, FL: St. Lucie Press, Inc.
1996
Pg. 129:
“I didn’t fail,” replied the Babe. “Every time I get a strike, I’m one swing closer to the next home run, and you know who has to worry about that!”
   
Google Groups: alt.sport.baseball.ny=yankees
Famous Quotes by Babe Ruth
GlennBrooklyn
7/3/00
(...)
“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
 
Babe Ruth CENTRAL
Babe Ruth Inspirations: “Every Strike Brings Me Closer to My Next Home Run”
On November 20, 2012
In addition to being famous for his amazing home run and baseball playing abilities, Babe Ruth is also recognized for saying some well-known, motivational quotes, including: “Every Strike Brings Me Closer to My Next Home Run”.
 
We are happy to offer the Babe Ruth Inspirations Tshirt line, which captures this famous quote on the front of the shirt. On the back is a large reproduction of an autographed photo of the Babe, inscribed “Sincerely, Babe Ruth”, which is a part of the Ruth Family Collection to this day. On the right sleeve is authentic Babe Ruth Inspirations logo, indicating that this t-shirt is officially-licensed by the Babe Ruth Estate
 
Google Books
All the Babe’s Men:
Baseball’s Greatest Home Run Seasons and How They Changed America
By Eldon L. Ham
Dulles, VA: Potomac Books
2013
Pg. 86:
Ruth evoked it and was known to say, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
 
Twitter
Simply Hired
‏@SimplyHired
Inspirational quote of the day: “Every strike brings me closer to my next home run” - Babe Ruth
3:56 PM - 23 Oct 2013
 
Twitter
Inspirational Quotes
‏@tweet_sayings
Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.
Babe Ruth
1:03 PM - 29 Mar 2014