The New York herald., 1920-01-06
COLONEL RUPERT
ANNOUNCES PURCHASE

Negotiations with Harry Fl. Frazee,
owner OF the Red Sox, for the purchase OF
George II. ("Babe') Ruth, noted pitcher.
by the Yankees, were completed yes
terday and II ended In a cash deal What
the figure was Colonel Rupert refused
TO say, but he admitted that he knew
Frazee had turned down an offer of $780,
90 for the player recently, and from
that admission 1t may be concluded that
the New York club did not pay much less
than that amount, If not more. It need
scarcely be mentioned that the news
will create furor in major league base
hall circles, that it will please Gotham
fans nightly. and at the same time raise
storm OF protest in the Hub, where fans
never dreamed that Frazee would dare
dispose of the star. Boston baseball
followers will probably not permit the
Red Sox owner to forget about It for some
time, but In local circles it was suggested
that the offer was undoubtedly too tempt
ing to be refused. One thing that may be
said with certainty is that the price was
the greatest ever paid for ball player.
From Boston Frazee sent word yestcr-
day that he had disposed OF Ruth because
he thought 1t was an injustice TO keep
him wits the Red Sox.- who ''were fast
becoming one man. team" He added
that he would use the money obtained
from the New York club for the purchase
the team into winning combination.
The acquisition OF Ruth will undoubted-
~ give the Yankees added strength as well
as prestige. Just now. Ruth, who estab-
lished a record of twenty-nine home runs
last season. is the most talked OF player
in baseball, and he probably will continue
10 be for some time to come, Recently
Babe returned his three year contract
from Los Angeles. where he has been play
ing ball and posing for the films, with the
ultimatum that unless his stipulated sal
ary was increased from $4,000 to $4,000 he
would refuse to play next season. He
added, furthermore, that he would refuse
10 play with any other club but the Red
Sox. The ultlmatum is not worrying Col
onel Rupert. however, who declared that
Ruth would have no cause to complain of
the treatment the New York club would
accord him II he showed any desire to be
reasonable.
Fraxee I'm League to Stay.
Does this mean" Colonel Rupert was
asked. that rrazee Is about ready to get
cut OF baseball?" Nothing of the Sort
was his reply, "Frazee Is in the league
stronger than ever The Yankee club
owner added that I'VE entered into negoti-
atoms for the player in pursuance of a
policy to give the clubs following In New
York an aggressive. strong. we'll balanced
team tndL WOuiu De III Hi respects worthy
Of the leagues largest city"
Miller Huggins. the Yankees manager.
is out on the coast now trying TO sign
Duffy Lewis for next season, and will
probably see the clubs new batting ace
before returning East, If he has not seen
him already. Colonel Rupert thought
Yesterday that Ruth would be played in
right field. which he considered his nat
ural position, but that question will be
left for Higgins to decide.
In addition to beating record for home
runs that had withstood assaults for many
years, Ruth led the leagues outfielders
with only two errors In 25s chances. His
batting performance embraced in all 139
hits. seventy-five OF which were for ex-
ira bases. In fact, he poled out more
extra base hits than singles. He scored
l03 runs, forced pitchers to walk him
Io1 times. and finished with batting
average OF 40. He also pitched thirteen
games. and proved his ability on the
mound by winning eight of them. AS a
fielder he had go putouts and twenty-sx
assists, the latter figure indicating the
excellence of his throwing arm.
Ruth came to the Red Sox in the closing
month Of the 1914 season from the Bati-
moro club along with Ernie Shore. now
member OF the Yankee pitching staff,
and Ben Egan. catcher. Ruth irnme-
diately made good as pitcher and won