The Washington times., 1920-01-08

vWu ICSOIu VI tWcuty-iuuc Induc 10
The other day Bill Lamar, the Rock
VILE. Nd. boy with the Red Sox. came
in to SEQ us and get a peek at the
official" averages OF the American
League. That was before Babe Ruth
was sold to the Yankees. Lamar, who
looked in wonderful condition. with
an eye clear as tho morning sky and
with the fresh color of debutante,
had much to say of Babe Ruth, who
seemed pretty much OF an idol to him.
''The Babe hits a lot OF high flies,
you know" said Lamar, talking of the
proposed change in the rules which
would permit batsman to escape
having a strike called on him when
driving long nies to tho fe:l territory
on either side of the outfield.
''There'd be arguments all the time.
You know how baseball players like
to argue about everything.
That's Pic for Him.
-Of course. there wouldn't be so
many arguments in New York, with
that short right field wall, but there
sibiy, Cleveland. II tho Babo played
In New York that wall would be pie
for him. If he played there half the
season he'd set the home-run record
so high 1t would never come down."
And now Babe-or "The Babe" as
all ball players speak OF him-is to
play in New York. IN seventy-seven
games he is going to measure the dis
tance from the plate to that right
field stand, and he would be brave, in
deed. who would say now that the
J91O record OF twcnty-nine home runs
would not be surpassed.
Only two batsmep have ever hit q
ball over the right field stand at tho
Polo Grounds, Babe Ruth and Joe
Jackson. Both slammed the pellet out
upon the avenue, clearing the L
structure. A fanciful story had Jack
sons landing In a saloon and knock
ing a stein Of beer from a mans hand.
II truo, that must have been a dread
ful thing, to take a perfectly good
stein of beer away from a man just
as he had 1t poised for action Any
way, maybe that's only a story, which
IS well, for 1t is almost too terrible.
Talk About His Ego.
As a partial explanation for his
partin gwith Ruth, Harry Frazee dis
cusses the players consuming ego.
knowing many ball players Of far
less ability, we are constrained to
pardon Ruth. There is much to be
said for him.
Though the books say that Ruth
played with the Mt st. Joseph's coll
legc nine, they are incorrect. He did
play with the ST. Mary's Industrial
school nine, of Baltimore, and it was
there that Jack D6nn. the manager of
tho Orioles. found him in the winter
ef 1913-14.
When Dunn asked the brother in
charge at the school for permission
10 sign Ruth for a trial with the
baltimore club, the brother replied
that, to do that, Dunn would have to
adopt Ruth. who was an orphan.
Dunn, therefore, legally adopted the
big boy.
Ruth came in for much laudation
while with the Baltimore club. This
was increased as soon as he became
major Lacquer. Many of us, with
Ear better starts in life, would have
suceumbed as we'll He has plenty Of
excuse for his ego.
HuExins Faces Trouble.
Miller Huggins. tho midget man
agcr Of tho Yankees, is facing many
troubles before the 1920 campaign
ends. How he will ever succeed in
handling such fellows as Carl Mays,
Babe Ruth. Ping Bodie, Bob Shawkey,
Del Pratt, aud Truck Hannah all at
once remains to be offered as a les
son to other big league leaders. or
course. before the Season starts, Hug.
gins may succeed in disposing OF
some of his tempcramental stars,
but II he begins with them all in
uniform, he's in for a warm summer,
even II the sun never shines.
All-star collections are never to be
desired by a baseball manager. Just
rs actors, each wants all the lime
light. The art OF sclf-sacrifice for the
god of the team is unknown to the
star. whether on the stage or the dia-
mand- '-
Perhaps the most sclf-sacrificing
star in baseball today is Walter
Johnson, though iris Speaker leads
him a close race. Each would gladly
throw away a possible record IL by so
doing he could assure success to his
team. Babe Ruth. 1t is needless to
say, does not answer this description
Neither does Carl Mays. And here
.hey arc both members of the one
club. Yes, Miller Huggins should
not want for excitement before the
curtain falls next October.
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