More Quotes Regarding the sale of the “Demon Slugger”
To follow up on my last entry in regard to the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees, I have dug up a bunch of quotes this time from the Boston side that were printed in the Boston Globe between October 1, and January 10.
October 24th 1919, Boston Globe – Writer Albert Woodlock:
“When asked if he has any trades in mind (Frazee) he replied that none were in the air, although there was not a player on the club of whom he would not dispose providing he received either his price or satisfactory exchange of players and that includes the champion home run hitter “Babe” Ruth.”
It looks like the trade talk around the hot stove started awful early in regard to the Sultan of Swat.
December 3rd, 1919, Boston Globe – No Author Cited
“Kid” McCoy, an ex pugilist, and Al St. John, a motion picture actor, today entered into an agreement by which McCoy will train Ruth for 30 days and if his report is favorable, it is said St John will finance campaign of the outfielder to obtain a match with Jack Dempsey, heavy weight champion
“I have always wanted to be a professional boxer” said Ruth tonight, “but I gave up any future I might have had in that game to play baseball.”
“If McCoy and St John think I have any future I am willing to do everything they ask.”
December 22nd 1919, Boston Globe – Sportsman
“If Pres Frazee has any idea of trading “Babe” Ruth he should take a leaf out of Frank Navins book. The Detroit mans club has not been winning championships for years; but until “Babe” Ruth came to the front, he had in Ty Cobb the best drawing card in baseball and money could not tempt him to let Ty go to another club.”
December 28, 1919, Boston Globe – James O’Leary
“The past week there was a lot of talk about Babe Ruth’s ultimatum to the Boston American League Club, in which the greatest of home run swatters is alleged to have said that not withstanding the fact he is under contract for to the Boston club for the next 2 years at $10,000 a year, he will demand $30,000.00 for next year, and unless he gets it will retire from the game: and he wants to play for the Red Sox and will not stand for his sale or exchange to any other club.”
January 6, 1920 Boston Globe – James O’Leary
“Demon slugger of American League, Who Made 29 Home Runs :ast Season, Goes to the Yankees”
“Babe Says He will play in Boston or Nowhere”
“I should have preferred to take players in exchange for Ruth, but no club could have given me the equivalent in men without wrecking itself, and so the deal had to be made on a cash basis.” - HF
“No Other club could afford to give me the amount the Yankees have paid for him, and I don’t mind saying I think they are taking a gamble.” HF
“With this money the Boston club can now go into the market and buy other players and have a stronger and better team in all respects than we would have had if Ruth had remained with us.”
January 7, 1920 Boston Globe – “The Sportsman”
“Sentiment in baseball is a thing of the past. Holding onto players as has been done in Pittsburgh as been the case with Honus Wagner; in Detroit as regards to Ty Cobb and in Washington where Walter Johnson has been idol, are rarities.”
Mister High Standards
Posted: December 17, 2005 at 11:28 AM |
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I would pay very good money to see Jason Giambi pummel Andy Dick.
“With this money the Boston club can now go into the market and buy other players and have a stronger and better team in all respects than we would have had if Ruth had remained with us.”
I see. So the A-Rod excuse was in place almost over 80 years ago.
“Sentiment in baseball is a thing of the past. Holding onto players as has been done in Pittsburgh as been the case with Honus Wagner; in Detroit as regards to Ty Cobb and in Washington where Walter Johnson has been idol, are rarities.”
These quotes, like the "Old Ballplayers Never Die" sections from James' Historical Baseball Abstract, seriously amuse me. You could replace that with San Diego-Tony Gwynn, Milwaukee-Robin Yount, and Kansas City-George Brett and it could have been written ten years ago.
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