years earlier. Whatever the rationale underlying the transaction, it dramatically Babe Ruth, Part 2 impacted both clubs. During the formative years of Major League baseball the Boston Red Sox were a By Charlie McBriarty dominant force in the American League. They represented the American League in the inaugural 1903 World Series, facing the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National Last month’s article focused on Babe Ruths early life and his success as a Major League. They were victorious in that series and captured additional World Series League pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. During what turned out to be his last year championships in 1912,1915,1916 and 1918. After trading Ruth, it took 85 years with the Red Sox he transitioned from being a gifted pitcher to become one of the before the Red Sox were able to capture another series in 2004. For years Red Sox most prolific hitters in the game of baseball—the year was 1919. fans referred to this 1919 deal as “the curse of the Bambino” (one of Ruth’s numer­ Several noteworthy events occurred that year. On January 6, the nation mourned ous nicknames). the death of its 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt; the 18th Amendment to the It was an entirely different story for the Yankees. The acquisition of Babe Ruth Constitution authorizing prohibition became the law of the land; Congress ap­ has been credited with the emergence of the Yankees as one of the foremost teams proved the 19th Amendment assuring women the right to vote once ratified by the in the American League. From the beginning, his prowess at the plate was evident. states; and World War I ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June During his first season with the Yankees in 1920, he played in 142 games, ended the 28. Additionally, the baseball world was rattled during the last months of 1919. season with a .376 batting average, scored 158 runs, had 172 hits with 137 RBIs and The October World Series was the scene of what became known later as the Black recorded 54 home runs—breaking the major league record he set the previous year Sox scandal, which threatened to tarnish the game itself. Members of the American with the Red Sox. During the 1921 season he improved his batting average to .378, League champion Chicago White Sox conspired with gamblers to lose the series to accounted for 171 RBIs and for the third consecutive year broke the home run re­ the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Charles Comiskey, owner of the cord by slamming 59 four baggers. That year the Yankees won the American League White Sox, was so detested by his players, primarily because of his miserliness, that pennant and faced their cross-town rival, the National League champion New York they made contact with gamblers who agreed to pay them if they lost the series. Giants, in the World Series of 1921. The Giants prevailed and won the series in spite Thus the highly favored White Sox won only three games and the Reds won five to of Ruth’s series batting average of .312, a home run and four RBIs. take the series. As a consequence, a number of White Sox players were eventually The next year the Yankees were again winners of the American League pennant banished from baseball. In addition, prior to the beginning of the 1921 season, the and once again faced the Giants, who continued to dominate their cross-town rivals first commissioner of baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, was hired by the Major and captured the World Series of 1922. Ruth was not a factor in this series with a League owners to oversee the game. batting average of just .118, having only one RBI and producing no home runs. It is interesting to note that reporters coined the term Black Sox well before the The 1923 season was another story for both Ruth and the Yankees. The team 1919 World Series. Owner Comiskey had a policy of expecting his players to clean prospered on their new home turf Yankee Stadium. Ruth hit the first home run in their own uniforms and equipment at their personal expense. This was contrary to Yankee Stadium and during the season achieved a batting average of .393, drove in that of other Major League teams. The policy was not appreciated by the players, 131 runs, had 41 home runs and was named the American League Most Valuable and to demonstrate this they did not get their uniforms cleaned regularly. Eventu­ Player. ally the sweat, grime and dirt began to darken the white woolen uniforms, resulting Ihe Yankees again captured the American League pennant and for the third con­ in several local reporters referring to the team as the Black Sox. This player behavior secutive year faced the Giants in the World Series. This third meeting of the rivals on at least one occasion caused Comiskey to have -all uniforms cleaned. When the was the charm for the Yankees, winning their first World Series championship. Dur­ players arrived at the ball park they were surprised to find sparkling white uniforms ing the World Series, Ruth hit three home runs, scored eight times and batted .368. plus a notice from the team’s owner that the cost of the cleaning would be deducted Babe Ruth was a Yankee from 1920 through 1934. During those years he scored from their pay. 1,959 runs; had 2,518 hits, including 569 home runs; and delivered 1,978 RBIs. In On the day after Christmas 1919, the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth’s contract to the 1927 he broke his own single-season home run record by hitting a total of 60. It New York Yankees for a record-setting sum. The precise amount paid by the Yan­ was not until 1961 that Roger Maris, another Yankee, broke Ruth’s record by hitting kees is unclear but it was in the $100,000-$125,000 range. You may ask why the home run number 61 on the last game of the season. Red Sox would sell one of their most valuable assets. There seem to have been two Today there is little debate about how Babe Ruth’s power hitting changed the na­ factors in play that caused the new owner of the Red Sox, Harry Frazee, to make ture of Major League baseball. From the beginning, his skiU and persona endeared this deal. The fact that Ruth and the Red Sox manager, Ed Barrow, did not work well him not only to baseball fans, but to the general public as well. When the Black Sox together, with arguments frequently breaking out in the dugout during both the scandal surrounding the 1919 World Series threatened Major League baseball, Ruth’s 1918 and 1919 seasons, was one factor. The second was looming debt which resulted presence in the game offered an effective diversion. During the 1920 season, Ruth’s from various notes Frazee had negotiated when he purchased the team some three first season as a Yankee, home attendance totaled 1,289,422, setting an attendance record for attracting more than one million fans during a single season. In fact, the Yankees had the highest attendance records among the American League teams for We 3 peciaHie in Cleaning Orienpai (?(Area 13 of the 15 years that Ruth was with the Yankees. Age and diminishing proficiency began to take their toll and eventually marked the end of Babe Ruth’s career as a Yankee. At the end of the 1934 season the Yan­ Masterdean kees released Ruth to join the National League Boston Braves, but he played only -tAKm Ul’HOI VI1 KY t i I A M \f. 28 games for that club before retiring in 1935. The following year Babe Ruth was 247-7807 / 638-7020 elected to the first class of the Baseball Hall of Fame that also included Ty Cobb, 800-560-7807 Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner. On June 13, 1948, his A nnC RC Professional Service For Over 18 Years last appearance at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees retired his jersey number “3.” Two Certified Firm I months later he lost his battle with cancer. His funeral was held at Manhattan’s St. IX1»BCTIS» w xm IB^GNTja SBm /34 HI CKtfiDCrniBB W im 2 ^ iaimiSEM;?-*! Patrick’s Cathedral and the interment was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York. 24 Hour Emergency There is much more—both accolades and shortcomings—that could be written Flood Water Removal Service about this gifted athlete, but that will need to be postponed for a future time.

28 The Shoreline I May 2014