The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-21
BABE RUTH
MUST HAVE
Much ROOM
Right Field at Polo Grounds
Not Big Enough for
Him.

NEW YORK. Feb. 21-George
Baoe") Ruth is evidently not alone
In the belief that he would he taking
mis- life in his hands at attempt to
play right field at the Polo Grounds.
The Colossus of Swat told a Boston
interviewer last week that he despises
Ine very though of operating in so
restrlcted an area and in such close
pro&lmlty TO concrete wall, and
there are indications that his new
owners nave been doing some heav.
thinking lately along exactly parallel
tlnes; AT any rate, they are apply
ing Tor special insurance on the
Babe in addition to the customary
blanket policy which protects them
against loss through injury to any Of
their players.
1t has been Higgins intention to
play the Babe in right with Duffy
Lewis in left and some fleet-footed
put heretofore unidentified bird in
centre. He figures that Ruth should
snow to better advantage is this
somewhat cramped position than at
any other outfleld station, and ex-
pert opinion has tended, until very
recently, TO support him in this con
tention. Since the Babe spoke his
piece In Boston, however, the lads
have been wondering If it would. af.
ter all be safe to allow him to roam
unshackled in so dangerous a neigh
borhood.
( Ruth may not be the most artistic
picket man extant, but on one has
ever yet accused him Of being a shirk-
er on the job. He trails the elusive
srounder and pursues the festive fly
with all the fiery ardor'of a born "get,
Ter asd recks not where the chase
may lead. This is highly commend
able trait, to be sure, but discretion
Is by far the better part of valor in
playing right field at the Polo
Grounds. No one, however. skillful
he may be, can run wild in that pas
lure and, live. One must always keen
that right field wall in mind or pay
penalty in broken bones.
Whether. Ruth is temperamentally
fitted to fill this hazardous berth as
1t should be filled is somewhat of a
problem. Once he gets his eve on
the ball, whether he be at bat or in
tie field, he is prone to keep 1t there.
he wants nothing to interfere with his
keeping 1t there-at least of all a
tard, unyielding concrete wall. And
keeping one eye on the wall and the
other on the ball is most of the so.
Crct of playing right field at the Polo
Grounds. No one has ever played the
position successfully who couldn't or
wouldn't do this little thing.
Ruth declares that he wants to play
centre, where he will have no fences
to bother him, and Boston observers
who have closely followed his career
as an outfielder believe that he can
dc it. They concede his lack of polish
as a picket man, but contend that he
is fast enough to fill the bill and that
hes is by no means a poor Judge of
batted ball. The strength and ac-
curacy of his throwing is attested by
the fact that he rated among the
first three outfield assists last sea-
son.
Since the Babe is rather stub
born fellow, the chances are that he
will prevail upon the Yankee leader
10 give him tryout, at least, in cen
tire. And since he is easily amen
able to reason when properly handled
it is altogether likely that he will in.
terpose no serious objection to being
shifted back to right in the event thai
be proves a failure in centre.