The Washington times., 1921-10-19


Why does not the "Big Kid" loo
II was not Judge Lands who in
Augurated the rule prohibiting players
or teams that participated in world
series games from taking barnstorm-
ing trips. The old National Commits
sion that went out when Judge Lands
was made the supreme head OF base
ball and took office. established the
rule. II was a good rule, too.
What have been these transforming
trips heretofore anyhow Joy jour
neys mostly. The players are not
under strict control. and discipline has
not been enforced. Many OF the play
ers go off training when the cham
pionship seasons are over, II so in
clined. and no restrictions are put on
them. They are a happy-go-lucky lot
as general thing. They are out more
for pleasure tfran business, although
they are sticklers on securing their
guarantees. They are liberal enough
though after that.
Transforming trips are not doing the
prominent players-the stars--or the
sport any good. 1t would be well II
the trips were abolished, not only for
the stars, but also for the less prom
inent players in the big leagues.
Babe Ruth, especially. has too much
at stake to allow himself to be harmed
In reputation and prestige by any
such cheap method as transforming.
The name suggests cheapness. II
casts reflections on those players who
participate in such trips. They are
unseemly for such high-salaried men
as Babe and other Yankees who ac-
companied him to Buffalo.
Salary Makes Total Of $4,000.
Ruth's salary for next season
with the New York American League
club might call for a seasons salary Of
$4,000. He would be worth 1t, for he
! would earn 1t. What does the paltry
few thousand dollars he would receive
on this transforming trip amount to in
: comparison? Sc.
II Ruth will only be sensible he
will appreciate that any professional
baseball players period on the field
is short at the best. Also that the
greatest stars have been soon for
gotten after their retirement.
Babe, too, is a man who puts on
more weight every winter and 1t Is
hard for him to reduce in the spring.
He should take that into grave con-
sideration. Also that when he loses
his prowess as a home-run hitter, or
when it deteriorates, he will lose his
chief stock in trade as big salary
Garner.
Those are very serious matters for
him to consider. II he does seriously
consider them, he will surely cut out
transforming from now to the finish
of his baseball career. He will last
several years longer as the most
famous slugger who ever lived.
Babe, too, owes much to his present
employers, Colonels Rupert and
Huston. By an outlay of $137,5 500,
they secured his services for the
Yankees. That was a tremendous
price-a record one. 1t fairly took
fandoms breath away. Babe by be-
coming a Yankee had his salary
jumped enormously. 1t makes no diff
ference that the club owners make a
good investment. They took the
chance that other owners failed to
take, and at the same time afforded
Ruth the opportunity to gain wealth
and fame that he would not have had
as a member of the Red Sox.
He would have been more or less
tied down in Boston, although he
gained fame there also.
Owners Investment Enormous.
Colonies Rupert and Huston are
liberal owners. They have done every
thing in their power to give the Amer
ican League the highest standing in
New York City and they have sue
ceeded. -.
Babe has helped them-no doubt
about that. They are willing and
anxious to show due appreciation Of
that to Ruth as we'll as to his fellow
players.
Colonels Rupert and Huston have
completed arrangements to build a
new ball park that will be a monu-
ment to the national game. Without
Babe Ruth on the Yankee team, their
vast investment would get a danger
GUS setback. Babe owes IL to his en-
ployers to be as fair and square to
them as they have with him.
But Babe does not want to get the
idea into his head that he is bigger
than baseball, as his ignoring of Judge
Lands decision on transforming
seems to imply. j have seen several
others who have had that idea drop
by the wayside and the sport so on
Just the same.
The Yankees will also run along
without Babe Ruth, IL he Is so foolish
as to be expelled from organized base
hall. The Yankees will not be tail
enders next season either, without the
redoubtable slugger.