Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-30
BABE RUTH HAS DONE MORE THAN
HELP YANKS- HAS STIMULATED
INTEREST IN GAME EVERYWHERE
BY ROBERT w. MAXWELL
sports Editor Evening Public Ledger

NyITHEN you mention the name Of Babe Ruth you
w have said the first and last word in baseball for
1920 The Babe only is asset to the Yankees and
the American League, but also to the game in general
He has done more to stimulate interest IN paseDaH
throughout the United States and Canada than any other
Individual. Take it from me, he stands in class by
himself"
The grizzcd baseball scout talking between in
nines at the ball game the other day. Seated behind
post where he could get dope the players and hide
quickly when about to be discovered he took few
minutes off to give vent to his ideas rms was an
unusual opportunity baseball scouts usually are so
secretve that they seldom talk even to themselves.
"Yes, SIR" he continued as he tore off chunk of
smokeess tobacco and hid it in his face, Babe Ruth is
the biggest noise have had Th" fans are crazy
about him in New York and other American LeasIe
cities but it doesn stop there Down in the bush leagues
where I spend most of my time there is just as much
excitement.
"At every ball game there is special spot on the
scoreboard reserved for Babe Ruth His home record
ia hung there and when he breaks it the fans told
who pitching, where the ball was hit and the inning
You will this up in Canada or do"n in Texas: The
fans in those places following Ruths record more
closely than in the big leagues.
'They also have a new method in referring to their
best players Once upon time there were thousands OF
second Ty Cobbs,' but now the name of the Georgia
Peach seldom is menopcd. II bush Lacquer gets into
the spotlight he feels proud when called III" second Babe
Ruth.
UTHE Babe is a great ball player, but pon can 90
further than that. He has set nm eTamp'c
for the youngsters to tolor and that has created
more players for the minor leagues There's some
good talent in the bushes the fans are turning o"t
attendance Records Broken
NNCE upon a time the baseball magnate would warm
~ up his gold lead pencil, pull out his engraved sta
tionery and start to fgger.
"If get 300 900 paid admissions in the ball park
this season. he would say to himself II will clear e1-
penses But where, Oh WHERE I get those
500 oOo?''
T,e Yank owners used to do that but times have
changed since Babe Ruth allowed himself to be paid
500 900 year. Now they have that many people in
space of three weeks and while the Babe is hanging up
new home mark the owners are breaking attend,
ance records Therefore, pleasant time is being had
by ALL
the New York club and everybody is connecting with
home runs. Right they have more circuit clouts
than any five clubs in either league and still going
strong The club is up there fighting for the pennant
and that helps the gate receipts The Nanks are in the
West and the home clubs are getting wealthy
The Babe certainly is wonderful attraction, but he
can blame no one himself. He unconsciously devel
oped himself into home hitter little knowing at
the time that he would in large financial returns
When he broke into the fast set Ruth pitcher.
He still is for that matter when one watches him in the
outfeld. However, he started noundsman, and
those gents used for pitching purposes only They
merely tolerated while at bat. They usually take
three swings and get away from there.
But Bambino a natural slugger-crude and un-
couth htters go, but natural one at that. If he
hit the ball it would far, far in his
rookie days. But when he broke into the league he never
would have been able to get by on his hitting 1ou can
bet the bankro that It's lucky for him that he had
repertoire of scintiating to say nothing of speedy
slants.
THEREFORE, he icdS able to 90 up TO the plate.
soing from the hip, and if he connected all ,oei
and good. II he didn I, it Tds all oell and good.
anyc1y.
Ruth Just Whales at Ball
pitchers seldom given instructions when they
L go to bat They have clear track and can do any
old thing they wish The Others however, are told to