New-York tribune., 1920-01-06
Home Run Monarch Is
Sold by III. H. Frazee,
Owner of Red Sox. in
Straight Cash Deal
Player Is Signed;
Salary Not Stated
Addition of Slugger Is Ex-
pected to Put the Team
in Line for the Pennant

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5-MiIler Hug
gins, manager Of the New York Ameri-
cans, tonight announced he had signed
Babe" Ruth, champion home-run hit
ter, to play with the Yankees next sea
son. Papers were exchanged here late
to-day, Higgins said. He refused to
state what salary Ruth was to receive,
George H. {Babe) Ruth, the great
est slugger that ever appeared before
baseball public, will play for Miller
Huggins's Yankee team from now on.
Colonel Jacob Rupert, president of
the New York American League Base
ball Club, made the announcement late
yesterday afternoon. 1t was a
straight cash buy, consummated after
several weeks OF negotiations.
is believed that Colonels Rupert and
Huston paid at least $150,0O0 for the
champion home run hitter of all time
1t is known that Harry II. Frazee, of
the Boston Red Sox, from which club
Ruth comes to New York. refused an
offer of 100000 for the Babe" which
was made last August by Colonel
Rupert before Ruth had become the
great drawing card he is to-day.
II am not at liberty to tell the price
we paid smiled Colonel Rupert after
he had made the announcement. 81
can say positively, however, that it is
by far the biggest price ever paid for
a ball player Ruth was considered a
champion of all champions, and, as
such, deserving of an opportunity to
shine before the sport lovers of the
greatest metropolis of the world.
at iS NOT OnlV Our infQufiOr h11t a
strong life purpose, moreover" con-
tinued Colonel Rupert, in a more seri-
GUS vein, "to give the loyal American
League fans of greater New York an
opportunity to root for our team in b
worlds series. We are going to give
them pennant winner, no matter what
the cost think the addition of Ruth
to our forces should held greatly along
those general lines. Yet the fans can
rest assured we by no means intend to
stop there. Eventually we are going to
have the best team that has ever been
seen anywhere"
Higgins Ont on Coast
Manager Miller Higgins, of the YAM
KEGS, is at present on the Pacific Coast,
whittier he went some ten days ago to
sign Meusei and other players. He will
Immediately get into touch with the
into line for the prospective spring
training campaign.
At the time he was sold by Harry H.
Frazee Ruth had been quoted from the
Coast to the effect that he would not
play in the Hub unless the Boston
magnate doubled the salary the Babe
received last year Just before the
teams went South last spring Ruth, who
had held out, signed three years con-
tract with the Red Sox at salary of
$4,000 annually. From the Coast he
was reported TO have said he would
have to have $4,000 from Boston for
1920, and that he would not submit to
being traded to another club.
he had not heard from Higgins since
Miller left town, but that he would in
struct him Immediately to get in
touch with Ruth No trouble with the
champion slugger is anticipated. 1t is
believed Ruth will be glad to appear
in seventy-seven games at the Polo
Grounds, whose short right field fence
presents an excellent target for home
runs.
Certain it is that the generous own
ers of the Yankees are not likely TO
bubble with their latest star. 1t is
very doubtful if they will consent TO
would be bad precedent. But there are
any number of ways for providing
bonuses which will assure Ruth his due
worth so long as he continues the
drawing card he proved with the Red
Sox in 1919.
In all probability Ruth will play
right field for the 1920 Yankees. There
is little doubt that Duffy Lewis, the
veteran left fielder and former asso-
ciate of Ruth with the SoX, will return
now that the punch of Ruth has been
added to the Hugmen. Ruth played left
field for Boston only because Of the
other but the right field position.
Hooper was tried out at left field, as it
was Ed Barrow's original idea to put
Ruth in right, the easier patrol.
The addition Of Babe Ruth to the
Yankee roster cannot fail to make OF
the Yankees most serious pennant
contender the coming season. Such an
asset is of incalculab bic value. The ad-
dition of iris Speaker made pennant
factor Of Cleveland, rather medioccr
outfit until Tristram joined on. Ty
Cobb has kept the Detroit Tigers for
midable for more than a dozen years.
The Pittsburgh Pirates moved among
the first flights only so long as the
UllxHLy 1lduS " uEHSA w IHC A'AiiCASA'
And the same might be said of Larry
Laioie and the old Cleyclands.
Moreover, Ruth should add an in
gredicnt too painfully lncking with the
most formidable Yankee teams of the
older days. The Babe is one Of the
very most colorful players Of the
games history. He is an unique char
acter, always good for quip or =
laugh on his worst days, and forApread-
lines every afternoon he happens to
be himself A big good-nntured boy,
with the strength of Goliath and an
idol everywhere the game is known,
Ruth has still the brightest part of
his career in prospect, provided he
meets with no serious accident or i'll
ness.
Ruth will not be twenty-six until
the 18th Of next month. Aside from his
deadly wallop the Babe is one Of the
most versatile players of the game. He
IL very fnst for big man, though he
doesn't have to do much base running;
he usually hns plenty Of time to Jog
nround If he connects with the ball.
There IL no better pitcher anywhere
thnn Babe Ruth. Indeed, 1t was az a
southpaW he frst established his worth.
Eftoo.,