The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-06
=: Sporting Gossip From Many Fields ::
Yankees Claim Flag
 After Getting Ruth
Fans Delighted and Owners of Club Say Addition of Red sox Star Will Give Club Strength Needed to
 Capture Championship

New York, Jan. 6-The New York Americans threw a bombshen into the baseball world last night by an- nouncing that they had purchased Babe Ruth from the Red Sox at a price said to be s1Oo,0oo. Jacob Ruppert, President and part owner with Col. Huston of the New York Yankees, made the formal announce ment that Ruth had been purchased early last evening.
 He would not state the exact price, but admitted that H. H. Frazee, Pres ident of the Boston Club. had refus- ed an offer of S100,0O0 for Ruth last summer before he established a new home run record. It is presum- ed that this offer was made by the '. Yankees.
 Some went so far last night as to estimate that the price was not far short of 1000. In talking of the purchase, Col. Ruppert said: '@This is our answer to those who would like to drive us out of base l ball. We entered into negotiations for the famous player in pursuance of definite policy to give the clubs 1 loyal following in New York an az gressive, strong. well-balanced team, i which will be in all respects worthy of the leagues greatest city, and one l which New York fans can be proud off
 l Col Ruppert also said that the sale 1 of Ruth did not indicate that MT Fra 1 zee had any intentions of selling the l clu1 and retiring from baseball. On 1 the contrary, he plans to use the money to further strengthen his club. | When questioned as to what Ban l Johnson would think of the deal, Col. Ruppert said:
 we are no longer afraid of John son or care what he thinks. Ruth ! will be with the Yankees when the season opens. That fact is settled. we have taken over Rutn's con tract from Boston, which has two more seasons to run, at $10,000 a year, but in all probability we will make new contract which will Satis- 1 fly the player in every particular.
 "As matter of fact, Miller Hug gins, manager of our team, is now
 in Los Angeles, Cal, with authority
 to sign Ruth to a contract just as
 soon as he hears from us that the
 deal is completed We have now ad.
 vised him by wire.
 'tIn our opinion Ruth will Ien6
 strength to the Yankees where mos needed He is a fine outfielder a: well as a remarkable hitter and, O
 course, can be used as a pitcher i necessary. Huggins will have the fl nal decision, but he is almost sure tt
 use Ruth in right field, so as to make full use of his batting power in a!
 many games as possible.
 'It has been the ambition of Col
 Huston and myself for a number O years to bring an American Leagu pennant to this city. We are willing
 to spend any reasonable amount o money to satisfy this ambition an, ; to give the loyal fans a winnin : team.'
 Incidentally Col. Ruppert said tha
 Huggins would see Duffy Lewis an
 Meusel while in California, and ar
 range satisfactory terms for thei
 new contracts. There has been som
 talk of Lewis retiring, but the Yan
 another year or two.
 "Babe Ruth is twenty-five years o
 age. He was born in Baltimore, Md
 Feb. ', 1894. He stands six feet tw inches and weighs slightly over 20 , pounds. He was purchased from tn , Baltimore Club on July 8, 1914, fo
 a price said to be s2,700 by the Bos
 ton Red Sox, and has been with tha ; | club since.
 His chief fame up to 1918 was earn ed as a pitcher, but last year he bios - l somed forth as one of the greates = hitters of all time. He helped carr i the Red Sox to an American Leagu = | pennant in 1916 and again in 1918.