New-York tribune., 1919-12-26
HoneRun KING
Bound to Club
By Contract
Action of Manager of Pre-
mier Slugger and Movie
Hero Stirs Up Trouble
By w. ]. Macbeth

The story from Boston that Babe"
Ruth would refuse to play with the
Red Sox for less than $4,000 next
year-though he is under contract to
the Boston club for two seasons more
at $4,000 per annum-and that he
would play nowhere but in Boston,
proves that the champion home-run
hitter Of all time is possessed Of An
imaginative press agent. His manager,
John lgoe. lately arrived from tho Pa
cific Coast, gave out the interview.
Yes, Ruth has a manager. Has had
one ever since the close of the last
season. This manager is capitalizing
for Babe" and himself the reputation
Ruth acquired as slugger in the con-
tracted American League season Of
1919. Out in the land of eternal sun
shine. where baseball is played almost
all the year round, Harry Frazee's prize
piece Of heavy ordnance has been dem
onstrating his clouting propensities at
something like $500 demonstration.
But, If the Coast papers. are to be
believed, even the mighty Babe" Is be-
ginning to pale as "seven days won
der" on fandom Of that district. The
tank town circuit Is able to support
little more pretentious than the one
night ISLANDERS. They have exploited
friend Babe" in film or two, but he
seems to have just about reached the
end Of his possibilities for exploita-
tion until he acquires some new turn
contemplated retirement rings the
press agent story ! mile of.
Smith Started 1t All
It Is only short time ago they were
quoting Ruth as eager to engage Jack
championship Of the world. This par
ticular ambition Is a moth eaten fabric
that served every chance knight Of for
tune seeking notorety during the many
years that Jack Johnson held the
crown. 1t Is not new to baseball.
Frank Smith, the famous piano
Mover" and pitching partner of "Big
Ed" Walsh in the halcyon days of the
White Sox, sprung 1t first in an en-
Charles A. Comskey. Smith announced
that he was going to challenge no less
a champion than James ]. Jeffries when
JEFF was at his best.
Smiths reckless resolve never got
beyond newspaper resolution, whether
or not he got his raise. And Smith,
powerful young man at the time, had
had some ring experience. If he had de-
voted his life to the ring game Babe
Ruth might have been in line for
whack at the heavyweight champion
ship. He is rather old to start in now.
Ruth has brains enough to realize this
fact. 1t was never suspected that his
great strength lay north of the collar
button; but then, again, no one ever
suspected him Of wooing certain sui
eide.
No one can blame Ruth for attempt
ing to capitalize his reputation. That
Is the fashion Of this commercial age
But his demand for $4,000 is ludi-
crous. The time to talk those figures
was year ago, before he signed a
three years contract at $4,000 sea- |
son.
Heroes Soon Forgotten
sporting public has little use for /
contract breakers in any line. Nor can
Ruth afford to idle away his time His
1S reputation of year, and as such
soon forgotten by the tickle public. If
Ruth didn't play major league ball next
season he would be forgotten by the
Fourth of July
All of this talk of his touring Hawaii
and Australia is sheer bunk All Babe
knows, and all he can do as a gate at
traction, is to hit the old apple. Base
bali in tn far-off antlpodes has not
developed to such q degree as would
likely make the inhabitants 20 nutty
over visit of Ruth. 1t is doubtful if
one person in thousand down there
knows whether Babe Ruth is a ball
player or a nut sundae.
Major league magnates are ever
crying wolf and deploring the CONNER
clal cravings of the playing fraternity
Yet most of their troubles they bring
on themselves
Branch Hickey a few days ago an
nounced over his signature that he had
turned down an offer Of $4,000 cash
and four players for Rogers Hornsby.
He refused to divulge the name of the
Grub that made the offer, contenting
himself with the intimation that
Hornsby was not for sale at any price.
On the face of it, Rickeys announce.
inent looks like an advertising dodge
10 prompt spirited bidding for that
particular chatel For if Rickev does
hot intend to put Hornsby on the block,
"ny the announcement?
Hornsby is young man who never
mas Deen known to undervalue his per-
sonal services. year ago he was
threatening to retire unless traded m
aome other club BY announcing nnh,
ucly such high appraisal Of this sta 70
services Branch Hickey simply invites
trouble by a player who has been di,-
tatlsneo with his st. Louis berth ere
now.
Harry Sparrow. business manager of
the Yankees. VIII leave to-morrow for
.'acksonvillc. Fla. to completes arrange
mcnts for thc spring training Of the
club. He will also book route for the
return northward in company with the
dodgers. After arranging these details
sparrow VIII go to the Dover Hall
rest.
Scott School Eleven