The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-26
RUTH MAY ABANDON
ORGANIZED BASEBALL;
DEPENDS ON lands
BY FRANK G. MENKE


1t Is likely that Babe Ruth never
will play another game within organic
ed baseball.
That doesn't mean that the ruling
powers of baseball will suspend him
for all time But it does mean that
Ruth is so constituted that he's likely
to balk at any punishment other than
a fine-and promptly hurdle his portly
way beyond the confines of the organ
lied game.
Ruth may be let off with a fine
but the chances of so mild a punish
ment are slight. A suspension of some
sort is likely. And if a suspension
comes, Ruth is likely to go to the
semi-pros.
The assessment of stiff fine per-
haps wouldn't fret Ruth to any extent
One reason is that he'd probably ca
| jole his Yankee owners into paying 1t
| for him, or so shake them down at
contract renewal time that they'd in
| crease his salary to more than meet
| the fine assessment.
| Ruth Would Pay
Plastering a fine upon Ruth, there
| fore, would mean little other than
making the wholly innocent Yankee
| club owners pay it in the end. Lands
| appreciates the tangle and undoubted-
| ly, may decide that Ruth isn't going
to shoulder his own dose of punish
ment upon Rupert and Huston.
OF course the easiest way out would
be to fine Ruth. The fence and rule
smasher then would chuckle softly
figuring that somebody other than
himself would pay it in the end. AL
of which would keep Ruth joyous and
boisterous-and in organized baseball
And that's something which seven
club owners other than the Yanks de
voutly wish. For Ruth, alone and I'm
aided, draws at least 100000 persons
to the games in which he participates
around the entire circuit.
Certainly if the Yankee owners
alone were to have the choice of be
I ing without Ruth or paying out $4,000
fine for him they'd jump at the $4,000
fine chance. For Ruth, in a dozer
games at home, in bitter-rival series
would add at least that much to The
Yankee Golfers.
Up to Lands
, But Lands isn't one of those citi
Zens who deals out coats of white
wash. His baseball reputation is a
stake in. this case. It's the first, big
monumental problem he has faced. l
he let's Ruth off with a fine it'll helI
the American League-and make Ian
dis one luminous target for brickbats
For then it can be said he didn't dea
in justice or punishment-that hi
chose the easiest way.
If Lands should suspend Ruth TO
! part or all of the 1922 season withou
pay, the flambuoyant Ruth undoubted
ly will instruct organized baseball t
chase itself through all nearby alley
and jump to some semi-pro team.
And that'll be the Ruthian finish.
/ A half dozen leaders of conspicuous
) semi-pro clubs from various cities al
2 ready are lurking in the ambush, wait
| ing for the Lands ruling. If it bar
! or suspends Ruth they'll leap fortl
. with offers. And Ruth, penny wis
dollar foolish" probably will grab on
or the other-and then the doors o
organized baseball will be closed t
him for all time.
Ruth concluded the 1921 season tn
most conspicuous figure in baseball
J hero of heroes. He galloped into tn
5 world series with his name on the lip
1 of American fandom. He was lior
) lied by some, idolized by others-ad
. mired by millions.
4 But now-it's different.
Loses Recognition.
For Ruths action in hurdling tn
baseball rules has provoked a feelin
of pity and also contempt for him. Hi
:. fragrant violation of the law his a.
0 rogance in the matter, his how grea
= l am attitude has knocked him OF
2 the pedestal upon which he reigned.
. Ruth lost friendships and admire
0 ton by his act, he lost his nationf
popularity; he lost the respect c
many, and now he is in danger {
losing his connection with the organ
ization which gave him his chance
make fame and riches for himself.
What has happened to the rasl
egotistical youth already, and whs
will happen to him when Lands give
,. his ruling, will ever serve as lesso
2 to ball players:
Z BE humble-and obey the law"
= Copyright 1921 BY King Features