Evening star., 1920-01-06
KING OF SLUGGERS
REFUSES TO PLAY
EXCEPT IN boston
Baking at Sale Indicates
Ruth May Demand Hunk
of Purchase Price.
by DENMAN THOMPSON.

That Rabe Ruth, acquired by New
York from Boston for history-mak
ing sum, may prove something of a
white elephant rather than an asset
to the Yankees IS indicated by a tele-
gram the player sent from Los An
gelus, where he has been gathering
in the shekels by appearing in exhi-
bition games at SO much per exhibit
ton, and posing for the movies.
Ruth's message, according to an As
Sociated Press dispatch, read:
will not play anywhere but Bos-
ton. Will leave for the east Monday"
AS explained by Igoe, Ruth has in
vested his money in the cigar bust
ness in Boston. and naturally desires
to be in that city as much as possi-
bic. This is a logical explanation of
the home-run monarch'S attitude, but
it is safe to say it does not fully ac-
| count for the stand he has taken.
Ruth's announcement at the close of
! last season that he would disregard
the contract. running for two more
years, and calling for an annual wage
and bonus aggregating $4,000, which
he signed with the Red SoX. proves
that, in addition to being publicity
seeker, he is not bothered by any
qualmS of conscience when question
OF acquiring cash is concerned.
Ruth May Demand Bonus.
In the instance of Ruth's purchase
by the Yanks for a sum more than
twice as large as ever was turned
| over for a diamond athlete, what is
| more natural than that the costliest
OF all performers should consider
himself entitled to chunk of the
purchase price? Ruth probably fig
ureS that if he is worth more than
100000 to the New York club the
| owners can be induced to pay him
well for agreeing to accept the trans
fer.
Whatever sum Messrs. Rupert and
Huston have agreed to give for
Rutland it is estimated as high as
$3.50, 000--the chances are it does not
represent the total that will have
to be expended before Ruth appears
in a New York uniform.
Frazee is too smart a business man
to agree to the sale of Ruth con-
tingent upon the player accepting
terms and reporting for work. There
is little question but that he gets his
price for transferring title to Ruth
to the Yankees, upon whom will de-
volve the task of getting him into
line. Having expended such a huge
som for the athlete. the New York
magnates will be forced to satisfy
Ruth in order to protect their invest
ment. And this promises to be a
costly procedure.
Ruth probably will not only de-
mand fat bonus for agreeing to
play. but is likely to insist upon
being given a top-notch salary. He
has been insisting right along that
he would not play for less than
S2O, 900 a year, and this is the figure
he probably will demand from his
new owners.
Wisdom of Investment Doubted.
Whether Ruth will prove a profit
able investment for the Yankees is
exceedingly doubtful. The owners of
the New York club already have
spent mint of money in futile
effort to corral a winner With all
his prowess the slugger was able to
land the Red SoX no higher than
sixth place last season. Furthermore,
the Boston newspapers. when reports
first appeared that Ruth might be
disposed of, did not voice violent OBJ
jections, contending that the presence
of this super star initiated against eff
fective team work by causing dis
satisfaction among the other players.
1t was much the same in the case
of Carl Mays. None of the Boston
players or fans were grief-stricken
when the surly-tempered hurler was
passed along, much of the dissension
on the club being attributed to the
presence of the pitcher who was re-
garded as disorganiZer. Acquisition
by the Yankees of this pair of trouble
breede promises to give Miller Hug
gins a fine young time of it keeping