South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-29
RULE MAY
COST YANKS HEAVY
Babe Ruth's Defiance Might
Remove Famous Swatter
From Organized Ball.

NEW YORK. Dec. 2S.-Babe
Ruth's open defiance of Judge Ian
dis. high commissioner OF baseball.
will cost the New York club at
least 100000 If. indeed. # does not
remove the colorful Bamb.no from
the pale Of organized baseball en-
tirely and render him a dead asset
TO the Yankees.
Judge lands has given the an
swer 10 the oft-repeated query: us
Ruth bigger than baseball?" and it
was a reply that IL not likely 20 be
modified by a plea OF extenuating
circumstances.
BY suspending Ruth, Bob Meusel
and Bill Piercy until May 20, 1922.
and fining them their shares of the
worlds series prize money. which
are being held in escrow, Judge
Lands tossed q b0mbshell into the
American league. While the sever
ity of the punishment was not un-
expected the verdict carries harsh
provisions that were not anticipated.
Ruth's employers were prepared
to stand a heavy financial loss, but
had hoped in some way to have the
sentence modified so that the home
run king could train with the Yam
KEGS next spring and then keep in
condition until his suspension was
lifted.
VIII Babe Stand "HitChed?"
BY Outlawing the Babe entirely
until late in May Judge lands prob
ably will drive him into an Alliance
with independent promoters and
thus prematurely end a great ca
reer. Ruth has many offers and II
will require great tact and persua-
sion on the part Of the Yankee col
onels 20 keep him "hitched' until
he can free himself in the manner
suggested by the official verdict.
Ruth's ill-ldWsed transforming
tour last fan netted him less than
$4,000. The interest on this, as
charged by Judge lands. can easily
amount 10 10 times the principal.
Aside from what Ruth is worth as
q box office attraction on a spring
training trip and the first month of
a championship season, the strong
possibility OF his quitting organized
baseball abruptly now looms up.
Babe can undoubtedly make big
money on independent bookings nex'
season, but after that he may not do
so well. Home-run records off bush
/ pitchers do not greatly interest
I baseball fans.
once Ruth breaks away he will
be done as a Yankee. He Will soon
be IS years old and he is GETTING
heavy. He might trade on his repu-
tation In a third major league II he
a could find promoters to start one
I However, the costly Federal league
failure is still fresh in the memoir.
\ les OF the promoters and money is
/ tight now.
Hats Record Making.
I In any event Ruth is not going &C
be the heroic figure he was in 1926
/ and last season. II he quits ne will
be a total loss 20 the club. and IL he
I sticks. but does not go into trainin
until late in May. he may not regain
B his form until midsummer.
And with a month sliced off his
season he has practically no chance
! 20 equal or even approach his
/ home-run records OF the past two
! seasons.
To the loss incurred by Ruth:
I suspension must be added the eX-
{ pension must be added the expensC
/ OF securing two new Outfielders with
which 20 start the next champion.
I ship season. The chances OF the
/ Yankees repeating IS champions un.
der these circumstances are any
thing but bright. Failure Their
I with no Ruth TO draw the crowds
( and no worlds series TO top the sea
I son. could easily run the Yankee
I losses up TO q half million dollars.
+ The more one considers the Ian.
T dis decision the tougher Il gets.