MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian

George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Yankee outfielder, was dubbed the “Sultan of Swat” in 1922 due to his phenomenal hitting ability. On the afternoon of October 28, 1926, the Bambino demonstrated his batting skills in Iron Mountain, playing an exhibition game with area baseball players at Athletic Park on the West Side to a crowd of over 3,000 enthusiastic fans. 1 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian

Ruth and his manager, Christy Walsh, a New York newspaperman, left Des Moines, Iowa, the previous evening, traveling by rail throughout the night to Beloit, Wisconsin, and then on to Oshkosh by automobile, where they were met by Ted Kingsford and Joe Lannan, who brought them to Iron Mountain just in time for the exhibition. Ruth is pictured here with Nello “Fungo” Tedeschi, one of the pitchers for the opposing local team who, together with Jones, a Channing pitcher, succeeded in striking him out. [Gene Derwinski]

[NOTE: Dates, placed The Yankees were playing in their fourth chronologically, are highlighted in in six years after winning their boldface red letters for easier reading, first pennant in 1921 and and names of individuals and places are their first world championship in 1923. highlighted in boldface black letters to On October 6, 1926, in the fourth game facilitate finding information.] of the World Series, Yankee slugger Babe The 33rd installment of Menominee Ruth a record three homers against the Range Memories, a series of articles by St. Louis Cardinals. The Yanks won the William J. Cummings, Menominee Range game 10-5, but despite Ruth’s Historical Foundation historian, now unprecedented performance, they lost the available on the Dickinson County Library’s championship in the seventh game. website, is titled “The Roaring Twenties – (On October 18, 1977, Yankee Reggie The Sultan of Swat Visits Iron Mountain on Jackson became only the second player to October 28, 1926.” hit three homers in a World Series Ninety-two years ago the appearance of game, tying Ruth’s record.) George Herman “Babe” Ruth on Iron Just ten days after the last World Series Mountain’s Athletic Field (today’s Iron game, on Wednesday, October 20, 1926, Mountain High School football field), on the Ruth was signed to play in Iron Mountain afternoon of Thursday, October 28, 1926, a week later in what was termed “the was certainly the most exciting athletic greatest baseball attraction ever to be event to occur on the Menominee Iron staged in the upper peninsula” in an article Range in the 1920s. appearing in The Iron Mountain News the The 1926 World Series, the 23rd playing following day. of 's championship Promoters of the exhibition were series, pitting the George Zieglebauer and Ned Fox. The champion St. Louis Cardinals against the newspaper stated they deserved credit for American League champion New York “a lot of nerve and faith in upper peninsula Yankees, had just finished. The Cardinals fans” to turn out to see . “The defeated the Yankees four games to three gamble was on the weather and fortunately, in the best-of-seven series, which took they won.” place from October 2 to 10, 1926, at George Ziegelbauer ran a grocery and Sportsman's Park. store on the corner of Edsel Street and This was the first World Series Fulton Street in Kingsford Heights in appearance, as well as first National 1925. Ned B. Fox was in partnership with League pennant win, for the Cardinals. Thomas Lieungh in the firm Lieungh &

2 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian

Fox, manufacturers and distributors of Kyl- plans” so there would be no hitch in Fyr, located at 207 East Hughitt Street, Thursday afternoon’s proceedings. Iron Mountain, in the 1925 city directory. Ruth played an exhibition game in Des According to the agreement, the Babe Moines, Iowa, during the afternoon of would play here as a member of one of two October 27. Plans were for Ruth to Upper Peninsula all-star teams. One team immediately “climb aboard a plane to be was to be formed from Dickinson County dashed to Chicago,” where he would players while the other team would be spend the night and begin his journey north selected from other “baseball lights” from the morning of the Iron Mountain outside of the county. exhibition. As the promotors of the project Somewhere between Iron Mountain assumed “heavy expenses” in bringing the and Milwaukee “Ted” Kingsford would Yankee star to Iron Mountain, players on meet Ruth’s party and bring them to Iron the two all-star teams were asked to Mountain, arriving in time for the opening of volunteer their services, “hoping that the the game at 2 o’clock. Ruth indicated that opportunity to play with the Babe or against there would be four in his party, including him and the chance of meeting him his secretary. personally” would be enough Also in Wednesday’s edition of The Iron compensation. Mountain News, the following players who In preparation for the exhibition baseball would participate with Ruth in the exhibition game, goal posts were supplanted by game were listed as follows: pitchers – bases at Iron Mountain’s Athletic Park. Jack Rahoi, Jab Murray (Menominee), On Tuesday, October 26, it was Tom Jones, Joe LaForce, “Fungo” announced that “all employees of business Tedeschi, D.E. Lancey; – Frank places who desired to see the Babe in Valenti, Bert Werley, Youngquist action” would be “permitted to leave their (Norway), Charles Crocker; outfielders – jobs during the hours of the game,” Bunzie Rahoi, Soderberg (Norway), although there would be “no general Hayden, George Rahoi, Miller, Si Saxon, suspension of business.” Barber shops of Johnson (Crystal Falls); – the city were closed for the event. Teabault (Marquette); Engblom Several weeks earlier, when the (Marquette); Belanger (Marquette), American League Stars were to have Ashenbrenner, Bud O’Conner (Oconto, played at Iron Mountain, a similar Wis.), Pultz, Web Jacobsen [sic – agreement was reached. Unfortunately the Jacobson], and Saxon. contest was “rained out.” Interest in the game – which had been The majority of public schools “would only lukewarm the first few days following declare a half holiday” Thursday afternoon. the announcement – gradually increased as Other schools would “dismiss their classes the date approached. By Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. so that the students would be October 29, the day of the event, “even the able to attend.” most doubting of ‘Doubting Thomases’ had According to The Iron Mountain News, to admit that the big deal was going to be on Wednesday, October 27, “a telephone pulled off after all.” conversation with the Bambino yesterday The weather conditions were ideal, (Tuesday) completed the last minute detail especially considering the event was held in 3 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian late October. A dry field and warm out into the open spaces which ceased to temperatures were all the promoters could be open spaces as soon as he arrived. The have wanted. throng was good natured, but it absolutely Ticket sales began at noon at Athletic refused to stay back.” Park. The crowd began to gather well The Iron Mountain News sports reporter before 2 p.m. when the affair was to begin. summarized the event as follows which has According to the newspaper article, “the been compiled from two different accounts: ones more confident of the fact that the “Babe Ruth, who has been more or less Babe would actually appear going inside intimately identified with the New York the park and selecting their seats and the Yankees and home runs during the past more dubious remaining outside and few years, dropped over from Des Moines, keeping possession of their coin until their Ia., yesterday afternoon to hoist a goodly doubts had been removed by the sight of number of Mr. Spaulding’s official cork the Bambino. And he did come.” centers over the fence of the Athletic park While the crowd, numbering about and incidentally give an assemblage of 3,000, was not the largest on record to some 3,000 enthusiastic fans their money’s gather at Athletic Park, it was the biggest worth and a bit more. in recent years. It was, however, easily the “Well over a dozen balls were sent most representative gathering of Upper outside the yard by the prodigious Babe, Peninsula athletic fans ever seen in Iron including one clout of the home variety Mountain. with two on base. But that was while they Copper Country newspapers predicted were still playing something that resembled that their sports lovers would be down “in baseball. In the seventh – (or was it large numbers” and Escanaba and the sixth? – who knows, or cares?) the Menominee were also well-represented. Bambino came to the plate and remained Cars bearing name plates of cities from there for 15 minutes or so showering the miles around were seen at the grounds. outfield with horsehide until his brow Ruth’s actual trip to Iron Mountain from became damp in spite of a cool breeze and Des Moines, Iowa, where he played the arm of LaForest began to weary. The Wednesday afternoon, was an ball game had been forgotten, but the accomplishment in itself. The Babe and his crowd – the biggest in recent years at the manager, Christy Walsh, New York park – wended its way home satisfied. newspaperman, “left Iowa City at 9:30 “The score? That, too, is a mystery. Wednesday night and were carried to Just one more detail lost in the enthusiasm Beloit, Wis., by train,” according to a which was centered upon Ruth. They sent telegram received from Walsh on the him to the plate in almost every inning and morning of the event. what happened in the meanwhile was a Ruth and his party were rushed to total loss. Oshkosh by automobile, where they were “‘Dutch’ Kochendorfer, Norway met by Ted Kingsford and Joe Lannan, hurling ace, opened up things by tossing completing the final leg of the trip with their ‘em over while the Babe lofted fly after fly arrival in Iron Mountain at about 2:30 p.m. deep into right field and over the fence. Once inside the park “the Yankee star Somebody finally picked two teams from had to fight his way through the crowd and 4 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian the players who had volunteered their Ashenbrenner; Werley, Escanaba; services and a ball game was started. “Dutch” Kechendorfer [sic – “Fungo Tedeschi opened on the Kochendorfer], Norway; J. Hayden; Jab mound against Ruth’s team. The first two Murphy, Menominee. men to face him went out and the Babe did “The Caseys’ Clown band added much likewise, Miller to Bresenham. That was to the day’s entertainment. not so good – with the crowd. “At the park Ruth was presented with a “Ruth went out to first base instead of basket of flowers by the Knights of his regular outfield position and the inning Columbus and then he spent a while was ended without anything of importance. autographing balls for the fans. On his second trip up the Babe struck out. “Several balls which are to be disposed The third time, with Pitcher Jones, of of for charitable purposes were Channing, in the box, he again was retired autographed for Mrs. Louise Coriagliotte. and the crowd was getting peeved. Jack [In an earlier article it was noted that Rahoi then went to the mound and Gould held the Babe to the plate until he immediately preceding the game Ruth was had hit safely. be asked to autograph a number of balls “At about the seventh inning Ruth went which would be disposed of later by Mrs. to the plate and with the unspoken consent Louise Coriagliotte, a charity worker, and of all players he stayed there for about 15 the funds would be used to aid crippled minutes, clouting the offerings of LaForest children of the city.] high, wide and far. Which was what the “Ruth had a sweet time getting out of crowd wanted. And when it was done the the field after the game. He was literally audience went home satisfied with the fact mobbed by small boys who tackled him that it had seen Ruth in action at close about the legs in an effort to hold him with range. And for some of those who stood them for a while longer. And, despite the along the sidelines and onto the field, it was fact that he had been through a trying real close range. journey, he kept his good nature.” “To Bunzie Rahoi went the honor of In a sports column titled “Home Brew by catching the first ball hit inside the Athletic Mark,” one item noted: park by Ruth. And, while we are speaking “‘Tuck,’ our star reporter, says he’s of the local players it is worthwhile to now ready to die, having lived a useful and mention that fact that Rahoi, Soderberg glorious career. Now that he’s interviewed and Web Jacobson, each came through Vice President Dawes, Henry Ford and with catches which were among the best Babe Ruth, he feels that there’s nothing seen on the local field this season. They more to live for. [“Tuck” would have been looked like real big leaguers. Lawrence D. Tucker.] “The following players took part in the Following the exhibition game, the play while there was a ball game going on: Lions Club hosted a dinner with Babe Youngquist, Norway; Bunzie Rahoi; Ruth as the honored guest, together with Soderberg, Norway; Jacobson; Christy Walsh, his manager and head of Bresenham; Miller, Crystal Falls; L. the Christy Walsh newspaper syndicate of Keekendorfer, Norway; Hayden; New York City. Tedeschi; Valenti; Pults [sic – Pultz], 5 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian

Frank O. Morett, president of the Lions Number 163 [Thursday, October 21, Club, presided at the dinner and T.J. 1926], page 10, columns 1-2 Masterson served as toastmaster. Other noted guests included: George Babe Ruth to Play at Zieglebauer and Ned Fox, who brought the Babe to Iron Mountain; Dr. F.O. Iron Mountain Logic, president of the Kiwanis Club; J.A. _____ Payant, head of the Knights of Columbus; Wells Hallenbeck and W.J. Clouting Yank Star Cudlip, representing the Rotary Club; and Is Signed Yesterday Joseph Lannen. _____ The Babe entertained with one or two stories and a few chatty remarks. Ruth stated he was very pleased to have been in He’ll Be Member Of Dickinson County Iron Mountain, noting that while here he Team With All-U.P. had been offered the purchase of Pine Players As Opposition Mountain at a price of $100,000 “for the _____ iron that’s in it.” “The entire meeting was quite informal Babe Ruth, slugging Sultan to the Swat and the Babe established himself a real of the , was signed fellow devoid of any ‘high hat’ characteristics, despite the fact that he is a yesterday afternoon to play in Iron national character and about as well known Mountain one week from today, Thursday, as President Coolidge.” October 28, in what, without question, is the Both Ruth and Walsh were life greatest baseball attraction ever to be members of the Lions Club. staged in the upper peninsula. Following the dinner the Babe The Babe will play here as a member of autographed a number of baseballs, a task which he was frequently called upon to one of two upper peninsula all-star teams, perform while he was in the city, and the personnel of which is to be announced conversed with club members. Tuesday. It is likely that one of the Late in the evening, Ruth and his party aggregations will be selected from were taken to Pembine to catch a train for Dickinson county players while the other Minneapolis, where he was to open a will be named from baseball lights who vaudeville engagement the next day. have shown on teams outside of the

county. Thus, the game itself ought to be a The following are verbatim accounts of real attraction. the news articles regarding Babe Ruth’s Cross Country Dash. visit to Iron Mountain as they appeared in Ruth will come here Thursday after The Iron Mountain News: making a cross country dash from Des

Moines, Ia., where he is to appear on The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, Wednesday. Investigation of rail schedules Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 6, 6 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian were being made today with the likelihood large delegations and there is every looming that Ruth will be rushed to Iron indication that the local enthusiasts will turn Mountain Thursday morning by auto. The out en masse. race will be another of the features of the The promotors of the project will be affair. under heavy expenses in bringing the His exhibition here will be his final Yankee star to the city and for this reason showing before he enters upon a vaudeville are asking for volunteer players for the two tour on the following Sunday at line-ups. It is thought that the opportunity to Minneapolis. play with the Babe or against him and the Despite the fact that negotiations with chance of meeting him personally will be Ruth were completed only last evening, incentive for donation of services. Several plans for the game are rapidly nearing local players have expressed their completion. Sale of tickets is to be willingness of playing under those commenced immediately. The Ford band [conditions] and, if there are not sufficient will be secured to add a bit of color to the volunteers from outside the city, it is likely program. An effort is to be made to have that these offers will be accepted. merchants cooperate in the manner they planned to do when the American League The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, Stars were to have played here several Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 6, weeks ago by closing during the hours of Number 168 [Wednesday, October 27, the game. The contest was “rained out.” 1926], page 8, columns 1-2 Ticket Contest. Sale of tickets will be carried on with the Stage is Set for Babe’s Appearance aid of school boys who are anxious to win a Tomorrow real, honest to goodness baseball _____ autographed by the “Babe” himself and to have their picture taken with him. No plans Bases Supplant Goal for the contest has [sic – have] been Posts at Ball Park formulated yet, but last night it was stated _____ that the three boys selling the most tickets for the game would probably be given the Schools Declare Half Holiday; Clerks balls and have their picture taken with Ruth May Leave Jobs To as their reward. See Bambino in Action It is likely that the biggest crowd ever to _____ see a baseball exhibition in the history of the city will be on deck in the Athletic park Iron Mountain baseball fans tonight are next Thursday. Fans from near-by cities sitting back with a smug, contended [sic – are expected to make the trip to the city in contented] feeling in the knowledge that the

7 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian sport treat of the season is to be staged majority of the public schools will declare a right in their own front yard tomorrow half holiday for tomorrow afternoon. The afternoon. And those fans who are not so others will dismiss their classes at 2:00 so favorably located, geographically, are that the students will be able to attend. packing up their toothbrush and The Players. handkerchief preparatory to a little jaunt Following are the players who will down here. participate with Ruth in the game: Pitchers Babe Ruth is to play here tomorrow. – Jack Rahoi, Jab Murray A telephone conversation with the (Menominee)[,], Tom Jones, Joe Bambino yesterday completed the last LaForce, “Fungo” Tedeschi, D.E. minute detail plans so that there is no Lancey; Catchers – Frank Valenti, Bert possibility of a hitch in the afternoon’s Werley, Youngquist (Norway)[,] Charles proceedings. Ruth is playing this afternoon Crocker; Outfielders – Bunzie Rahoi, in Des Moines. Immediately following the Soderberg (Norway)[,] Hayden, George game he is to climb aboard a plane to be Rahoi, Miller, Si Saxon, Johnson (Crystal dashed to Chicago. There he is to spend Falls)[;] Infielders – Teabault tonight and early tomorrow morning he will (Marquette)[,] Engblom (Marquette)[,] begin his journey north. Belanger (Marquette)[,] Ashenbrenner, Shocker Here Also? Bud O’Conner (Oconto, Wis.)[,] Pultz, “Somewhere” between here and Web Jacobsen [sic – Jacobson], and Milwaukee he will be met by “Ted” Saxon. Kingsford in an auto and be taken the Sale of tickets will begin at noon at the remainder of the way into Iron Mountain, Athletic park. arriving here in time for the opening of the Immediately preceding the game Ruth game at 2 o’clock. Over the phone will be asked to autograph a number of yesterday the Babe stated that there would balls which will be disposed of later by Mrs. be four in his party, including his secretary. Louise Coriagliotte, charity worker, and , Yankee pitcher, has been the funds will be used to aid crippled with the Bambino on a part of his tour and children of the city. it is possible that he is still a member of the party. The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, Yesterday it was announced that all Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 6, employes [sic – employees] of business Number 169 [Thursday, October 28, places who desire to see the Babe in action 1926], page 10, column 1 will be permitted to leave their jobs during the hours of the game although there will be Fans Flock to See Babe Ruth in Action no general suspension of business. All _____ barber shops, however, will be closed and a

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SUMMER WEATHER who completed the final 24 hour dash from GREETS BAMBINO Des Moines, Ia., to Iron Mountain. AND U.P. CROWDS Interest in the game, which has been _____ only luke warm the first few days following the announcement, gained volume as the Event Will Go Down As days went by and today even the most Biggest Sporting Event doubting of “Doubting Thomases” had to of City admit that the big deal was going to be _____ pulled off after all. Schools were to be dismissed early to A record crowd of spectators was permit children to see the game and expected to be at the Athletic park this employes [sic – employees] of business afternoon to witness the ball-clouting houses were told that they would be exhibition of Babe Ruth, slashing New York permitted time off to witness it. Barber Yankee outfielder. shops of the city were closed for the event. Weather conditions at the time of the start of the affair were almost ideal – a The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, remarkable state of things when upper Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 6, peninsula fall temperatures are considered. Number 170 [Friday, October 29, 1926], A dry field and warmth were expected to page 2, columns 1-2 pep up the play much. Ruth’s appearance here will go down as BAMBINO GUEST perhaps the greatest baseball event in OF LIONS CLUB; recent years in the peninsula. It is doubtful FIND HE’S ONE if any other such attraction pulled fans from _____ farther portions of the peninsula than the Bambino. Copper Country papers have Ruth and Manager Are predicted that their sport lovers would be Entertained Here By down “in large numbers” and it is known Local Group that the Escanaba and Menominee _____ districts are well represented. 24 Hour Dash George Herman “Babe” Ruth, king of Ruth arrived in Beloit, Wis., last night swat, bambino of the ball lot, clouter of or early this morning, a telegram from the home runs and just a big overgrown kid, swatter’s secretary received this morning was the guest of the Lions club at a dinner stated. He was rushed to Oshkosh by auto held last evening following his batting and there he was met by Ted Kingsford[,] expedition at Athletic park.

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With the Babe was Christy Walsh, his characteristics, despite the fact that he is a manager and head of the Christy Walsh national character and about as well known newspaper syndicate of New York city. The as President Coolidge. guests also included George Zieglebauer A basket of flowers sent by the Kiwanis and Ned Fox, who brought the Babe to club adorned the dinner table. Iron Mountain; Dr. F.O. Logic, president of the Kiwanis club; J.A. Payant, head of The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, the Knights of Columbus, and Wells Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 6, Hallenbeck and W.J. Cudlip, representing Number 170 [Friday, October 29, 1926], the Rotary club, and Joseph Lannen. page 14, columns 1-2 and columns 7-8 Frank O. Morett, president of the Lions club, presided, and T.J. Masterson was Big U.P. Crowd Sees Babe Hoist toastmaster. Horsehides Out of Lot Brief remarks were made by Dr. Logic, _____ Mr. Zeilgelbauer [sic], Mr. Hallenbeck, Mr. Walsh and the Babe himself. The Babe ‘Mob’ Wants to See Ruth entertained with one or two stories and All the Time so Game delivered himself of a few chatty remarks. Busts Up in 7th Frame Both Lions _____ It was revealed at the meeting that both Ruth and Walsh are members of the Lions Fungo Gets First Strike Out And Bunzi organization, holding life membership Rahoi Cops First Fly cards. From Bambino’s Bat Following the dinner the Babe _____ autographed a number of baseballs, a task which he was frequently called upon to Babe Ruth, who has been more or less perform while he was in the city, and intimately identified with the New York conversed with club members. Late in the Yankees and home runs during the past evening he motored to Pembine to catch a few years, dropped over from Des Moines, train to Minneapolis. Ia., yesterday afternoon to hoist a goodly Ruth expressed himself as being very number of Mr. Spaulding’s official cork pleased to have been in Iron Mountain and centers over the fence of the Athletic park said while here he had been offered the and incidentally give an assemblage of purchase of Pine mountain at a price of some 3,000 enthusiastic fans their money’s $100,000 “for the iron that’s in it.” worth and a bit more. The entire meeting was quite informal Well over a dozen balls were sent and the Babe established himself a real outside the yard by the prodigious Babe, fellow devoid of any “high hat” including one clout of the variety

10 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian with two on base. But that was while they tossing ‘em over while the Babe lofted fly were still playing something that resembled after fly deep into right field and over the baseball. In the seventh inning – (or was it fence. Somebody finally picked two teams the sixth? – who knows, or cares?) the from the players who had volunteered their Bambino came to the plate and remained services and a ball game was started. there for 15 minutes or so showing [sic – Fungo Tedeschi opened on the mound showering] the outfield with horsehide until against Ruth’s team. The first two men to his brow became damp in spite of a cool face him went out and the Babe did breeze and the arm of LaForest began to likewise, Miller to Breshenham. That was weary. The ball game had been forgotten, not so good – with the crowd. but the crowd – the biggest in recent years Ruth went out to first base instead of his at the park – wended its way home regular outfield position and the inning was satisfied. ended without anything of importance. On Who Knows Score? his second trip up the Babe struck out. The The score? That, too, is a mystery. third time, with Pitcher Jones, of Just one more detail lost in the enthusiasm Channing, in the box, he again was retired which was centered upon Ruth. They sent and the crowd was getting peeved. Jack him to the plate in almost every inning and Rahoi then went to the mound and Umpire what happened in the meanwhile was a Gould held the Babe to the plate until he total loss. had hit safely. The day was ideal. Considerably before Game Busts Up 2 o’clock, the time when the affair was to At about the seventh inning Ruth went have gotten under way, the crowd began to to the plate and with the unspoken consent gather, the ones more confident of the fact of all players he stayed there for about 15 that the Babe would actually appear going minutes, clouting the offerings of LaForest inside the park and selecting their seats high[,] wide and far. Which was what the and the more dubious remaining outside crowd wanted. And when it was done the and keeping possession of their coin until audience went home satisfied with the fact their doubts had been removed by the sight that it had seen Ruth in action at close of the Bambino. And he did come. range. And for some of those who stood Fights Way Through Crowd along the sidelines and onto the field, it was Inside the park the Yankee star had to real close range. fight his way through the crowd and out into Bunzie Got First the open spaces which ceased to be open To Bunzie Rahoi went the honor of spaces as soon as he arrived. The throng catching the first ball hit inside the Athletic was good natured, but it absolutely refused park by Ruth. And, while we are speaking to stay back. “Dutch” Kochendorfer, of the local players it is worth while [sic – Norway hurling ace, opened up things by worthwhile] to mention that fact that Rahoi,

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Sodeberg [sic – Soderberg] and Web Tedesschi; Valenti; Pults Ashenbrenner; Jacobson, each come through with Werley, Escanaba; “Dutch” catches which were among the best seen Mechendorfer, Norway; J. Hayden; Jab on the local field this season. They looked Murphy, Menominee. like real big leaguers. The crowd, while not the largest on Home Brew record at the local park, was the biggest in –By Mark– recent years. It was easily the most representative gathering of upper peninsula “Tuck,” our star reporter, says he’s now fans ever seen here, however. Cars ready to die, having lived a useful and bearing name plates of cities for miles glorious career. Now that he’s interviewed around were seen at the grounds. Vice President Dawes, Henry Ford and Ruth’s trip here from Des Moines, Ia., Babe Ruth, he feels that there’s nothing where he played Wednesday afternoon, more to live for. was in itself a feature. The Babe and his * * * manager, Christy Walsh, New York The policing of the crowd at the park newspaperman, left Iowa city at 9:30 yesterday was terrible. None but those Wednesday night and were carried to crowded within a small area near him could Beloit, Wis., by train. In the wee, small see the Babe in action, but still no efforts hours of Thursday morning they started were made to get them back. from Beloit to Oshkosh by motor and in that city they were met by Ted Kingsford * * * and Joe Lannan and driven to Iron Ruth had a sweet time getting out of the Mountain where they arrived about 2:30 field after the game. He was literally o’clock. mobbed by small boys who tackled him At the park Ruth was presented with a about the legs in an effort to hold him with basket of flowers by the Knights of them for a while longer. And, despite the Columbus and then he spent a while fact that he had been through a trying autographing balls for the fans. journey, he kept his good nature. He left the city last night going to Minneapolis where he is to open a * * * vaudeville engagement tomorrow. The school officials played a nice piece The following players took part in the of diplomacy yesterday by letting the play while there was a ball game going on: students get out early. There would have Youngquist, Norway; Bunzie Rahoi; been little chance of keeping them in their Soderberg, Norway; Jacobson; classes. About two-thirds of the crowd Bresenham; Miller, Crystal Falls; L. were [sic – was] “kids.” Still the school Keekendorfer, Norway; Hayden; officials were mighty good sports about it

12 MENOMINEE RANGE MEMORIES 33: THE ROARING TWENTIES – THE SULTAN OF SWAT VISITS IRON MOUNTAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 1926 By William J. Cummings, Menominee Range Historical Foundation Historian and deserve credit. For many of the children it was the change of a lifetime to see Ruth in action. Norway’s schools were dismissed as were all of those of Iron Mountain.

* * * Several balls which are to be disposed of for charitable purposes were autographed for Mrs. Louise Coringliotte [sic – Coriagliotte].

* * * The Caseys’ Clown band added much to the day’s entertainment.

* * * Ruth went into the pitching for an inning and everybody had a good time. Hits were many and fielding was clownish, but this was finally retired.

* * * George Zieglebauer and Ned Fox promoted the Ruth exhibition and deserve credit for a lot of nerve and faith in upper peninsula fans. The gamble was on the weather and fortunately, they won.

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