The New York herald., 1920-01-07
RUTH'S DEMANDS
MET BY A BONUS
Old Contract Win Remain in Force,
but Home Run King VIII Get
His Price from Yankees.

'eiHication or me despatch from Los
Angeles that Miller Higgins had sue
Yceeded in signing Yabe Ruth to an aeree.
ment to play with the Yankees. was had
at tho New York club office yesterday
when Colonel Rupert received a tele
gram from the Yankee manager to that
effect. Huggins' communication silenced
all rumors from Boston and elsewhere
that Ruth had baked at leaving the Red
Sox.
As usual nothing was made public re-
garding the terms ce the agreement, but
in view OF the speed with which Huggins
it is certain that Ruth's recent demand
for an increase of salary to 10000 was
met in a roundabout way. In order 20
avoid the appearance of yielding to a
player already under contract, Ruth was
asked to live up to its terms, which call
for $4,000 a year. but a sufficiently large
bonus was guaranteed to bring his reward
up to the figure he desired. And in local
baseball circles 1t Is conceded that Ruth's
record entities him to a larger salary
than the Boston contract calls for.
Fandom was all agog yesterday over
the acquisition of the home run kinG
by the Yankees. Colonel Rupert was re-
was termed a ten strike and the most
frequent comment was that Ruth, being
so great box office attraction would
pay for his record purchase price and his
salary before the season was more than
n few weeks old. Speculation over the
Yankees chances for the 1920 pennant az
a. result of the deal, usually ended will,
the enthusiastic conviction that they were
immeasurably more favorable than at
any any previous time in the clubs
history.
Boston Fans Depressed.
In Boston, judging by the comment IN
the various dailies, the fans were ereatly
lderressed as we'll as irate over the loss OF
1.-The demon hitter. From John Keenan,.
Header of the famous Loyal Rooters'
down to the most insignificant bleacherite.
lfandom unburdened itself of its feelings,
and the outbursts were scarcely compli-
lmeutary to Harry II. Frazee, owner or the
club. Even some of the baseball writer's
lcame through with such remarks as huins
lthe club" tremendous blow to army or
loyal fans who have stuck to the Red Sox
Through thick and thin" and May now be
lJ9O." One editorial declared that Ruth
lwas one of the three super-stars in the
last twenty years. the other two being
Wagner and Cobb; that money could never
buy Wagner and never would buy Cobb,
but that it bought Ruth.
Cooler heads in Boston, however. are not
lcensuring Frazee for his sale of the base
ball star. Some agree that he was wise In
getting a slice of Wall street In ex-
change for a player who did not "fit in"
with the rest of the club. They point out
THAT Ruth was an element of diseord on
the Red Sox team, most of the players
of special privileges accorded
him, and that he set bad example by his
lalleged unwillngness to submit to disci-
lplne or to respect training rules. Further
more, Frazee, confronted with Ruths
threat TO remain out Of baseball unless his
salary were doubled, had the alternative
Iof allowing him to stay out or sell him, for
he was determined not to yield in the mat
tier Of salary, Ruth and the Boston club
having entered into the three year con-
tract in good faith. The knowledge OF all
these facts has tempered the regret of
some OF the more reasonable Of the Boston
fans.
Frnzee Defends Action.
Frazee in defence Of his action issued
la .tatement to the Boston baseball public
lin which he dwelt on Ruth as disturbing
lelement In the club. In part he said:--
Had Ruth been possessed Of the right
disposition, had he been willing to take
orders and work for the good or the club
like the other men on the team, / would
never have dared let him go, for he has
youth and strength, baseball intelligence
and was a popular idol. But lately this
idol has been shattered in the public es-
timation because of the way in which he
has refused to respect his contract and his
given word. During the season he refused
to obey orders of the manager and final
y became so arrogant that discipline In
his case was ruined. He would not pitch,
but insisted upon playing In the outfield.
He had no regard for the feelings OF any
ono but himself and was a bad Influence
upon other and younger players on the
team. He left US in the lurch many times.
powers and the fact that he had been given
such tremendous advertising. he obeyed
none but his own sweet will.
''Tn the past two years ho has come go
rapidly to the front that the individuality
Of every other member Of the Red Sox
club has been swallowed up. Fans. at
tracted by the fame of his hitting. went
out to Fenway Park unmndful Of the
steady work of Mclnnis. Hooper. Schang.
Scott and others, and the latter felt there
was more interest in Babe Ruth than in
the pennant race.
81 might say that the New York club
was the only outfit In baseball that could
have bought Ruth for cash. Had they
been willing to trade players l would have
preferred the exchange, but TO make a
trade for Ruth. Huggins would have had
to wreck his ball club. They could not
afford to give me the mon I wanted. Ruth q
great value did not appeal to all the club
owners. I could not get Joe Jackson for
him in trade, and know OF at least two
other stars that Ruth could not be traded
for. I am wiling to accept the verdict of
all basebaldom. and I think that fair
minded patrons Of the sport will agree with
me that Ruth could not remain on the
Boston team under existing conditions