New-York tribune., 1920-01-14
Squash TOURNEY
Where, Prithee,
Will Higgins
Play The Babe?
Left Field Is Too Sunny
and Right Too Dan
gerous at Polo Grounds
Bv w. I. Macbeth

Midget Manager Higgins is some
where between here and Los Angeles,
presumably on the way East, and his
arrival is eagerly awaited on the part
of Colonel Jacob Rupert, president of
the Yankees. The genial colonel, who
is out to give his loyal supporters
pennant winner at any cost, is simply
champing at the bit for an opportunity
to do some real Babe Ruth tanning.
No little boy with his first express
wagon is quite so delighted as friend
Jake at having corraled the homc-run
king.
Now that Higgins has Ruth he will
be confronted with the problem of
placing" him to the best interests of
the clubs An asset of this value and
drawing power, Of course, must be used
every day. Babe is willing to double
in brass" i. e., take his regular turn
in the box when not cavorting else
where. But he is such a versatile
player he could fit in at any one of
several places to very good advantage.
In Boston last year Ruth's main pro-
clivities were devoted to fly chasing
in the left field patrol. He showed such
aptitude in this position that he prob
ably could soon get into the wrinkles
of either of the two pastures at the
scarcely likely that Higgins would care
to plant the Babe in left field with
New York. Left field here is terrific
sun field. Sun glasses are not cal
cuated to cdify batting eyes, and orbs
precious as those sported by MIR.
Ruth should scarcely be expected to be
placed under unnecessary strain. Be
sides which, Duffy Lewis, left fielder
extraordinary and sundodger par cx
Yankee caravan.
Take. it from those familiar with the
idiosyhcracies of the young Mr.. Ruth,
HugSins will be inviting nothing short
of absolute disaster if he places this
piece of rare bric-a-hrac in right field.
The Babe, like Sir Thompas I:pton's
| haliengers, needs plenty o. sea room.
In fly chasing he sees nothing but the
ball. 1t is believed that in the long
might get a decision over him. New
York fans will remember the Sunday
last summer when he butted the left
field paling so hard as to knock him
! self unconscious, though he clung to
the ball for an out that saved game.
1t is argued that if Ruth plays right,
! unless the fences are moved back out
1 VI HUME iuli range, ne is liheIv soon
to exercise the ambulance. In center
field Ruth would have all the leeway
necessary, but the big fellow is scarce
| ly fleet enough on foot for this most
important assignment.
Provided that by the exchange he
might land a hard-hitting outfielder of
the first rank, Manager Higgins might
do worse than swap Wally Pipp and
place Ruth at first base, where all
danger from fences would be mini
mized. Such move would make a
ten strike with Babe. For the last two
years it has been Ruth's ambition to
shine as an inielder
"First base is Kuth's natural posi-
ton declared Manager Ed Barrow, Of
the. Red Sox, when asked yesterday if
Rube. had ever shown anything as a
guardian Of the INITIAL sack.
II believe" Barrow continued, "that
If Ruth were played at first base regu-
larly during a training trip he would
none in the American League in the
point OF defensive skill. Within a
season. am sure, his we'll known slug
glng ability considered, he would prove
the greatest first base sensation Of his
tory: Nor am l forgetting Hal Chase
at his best in this prediction. l would
have had Ruth at first base all last
season had not been blessed with the
services of Stuffy Mclnnes, who could
not be made to fit elsewhere"
Clark Griffith is all wrought up over
the mere suggestion that the Yankees
might relieve him Of Pitcher Walter
Johnson. He is SO piqued, according
to the scribes Of the Capital City, that
he is not likely to have any traffic
whatever with the battling Colonels.
Despite this, hh9wever, gossip will
to depart from Boston with the we'll
known Polo Grounds as his ultimate
destination. 1t is known that Higgins
is hot on the trail of one more real
bag league outielder sand an expert