The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-05
RUTH LOSING PLACE
AS IDOL OF DIAMOND;
GOING DOWN TRAIL
ny FRANK G. MENKE


It's a tough assignment for any hui
man to achieve the pinnacle Of his en-
deavour- it's one infinitely more
so to hold those heights once they are
gained.
Babe Ruth spent a long while on
the diamond before he became ma
tional hero and generally was regard
ed as the most spectacular and out
standing swatsmith of all time. 1t
seemed, as the 1921 regular season
faded beyond the horizon of time, that
Ruth must dominate and reign for
many years to come.
Yet almost from that hour Ruth has
been on the downgrade in public es-
teem-and as the days fit onward
his rash actions, one after another,
make the downfall more precipitate.
He reached the crest after years of
trying; stood upon mountain higher
than any ball player ever reached be
FORE And then conceit wrecked his
equilibrium; the idol of yesterday be
comes but common clay.
Ruth was a million dollar asset of
the Yanks not so long ago. He was in
position to write his own contract
But Ruth no longer is worth the price
Of a kings ransom; and, unless all
signs fail, it'll be the club owners, not
Ruth, who will dictate the terms of
1923.
Starts Own Trouble
The slugger started the trouble HIM
self. He defied the laws of baseball
and went transforming last fall-be-
cause, thinking he was greater than
the game itself, he figured he could get
away with anything he tried. To his
sorrow-and certainly to his own as
tonishment-he discovered that he was
very much subject to league discipline.
Ruth was fined and suspended until
| May goth.
All through the weeks of enforced
! layoff, Ruth did little more than loaf.
| He was fat, f1abby-greatly overweight.
| He might have spent his leisure hours
| in training down SO that he would be
! fit to give his club the best he had
when finally he got back. He did moth
ing of the sort.
wait until Babe gets back and then
the Yanks will get so far out in front
streak of lightning won't catch 'em, =
was the chorus in New York from the
unsatisfied with the Yankees scant
lead.
Promises Good Licking
wait It'll Ruth gets back and he'll
murder your pitching" the Yankee
fans hurled at every enemy singer
Meanwhile Ken Williams, of the
Browns, having punched out II HON
ers, was miles beyond all opposition
in the four base division.
"Waft till Ruth gets back and he'll
catch up with and then pass Williams
in two months"
Then came May goth.
Ruth's just portion from fandon
that day should have been jeers OF
silent contempt There stood the mar
who, months before, thinking only o
himself and his eagerness to gain e
few transforming dollars, had broker
one of basebalFs laws-and so threw
down his club and his league-anc
New York fandom.
/ For the suspension of Ruth harm
ed none but his club, which was de
prived of his services for nearly ST!
! weeks, and the league, which los
s125,000 to 100000, because he wa.
idle, instead of serving as a dali.
drawing card.
Yet on the day of his return a cap
AStNS SAS"N Jchl44J4Zd LIS Ndy 1ILt
the Polo grounds to greet him. TIL
ovation be got was wonderful. Flow
ers, material gifts, Wild applause, VIC
cal bellows of welcome and encourage
mental were given to Ruth.
Sugaer Goes Hitless.
And that day, while the multitud
, begged home run, the slugger wen
hitless. The crowd went home a hi
, disappointed-but confident that til
morrow would find Ruth crashing an
banging in old-fashioned style.
But it didn't
And the next day, it was the SAINT
But the crowd no longer was III
same. 1t didn't cheer with old-tim
, fervor; its acclaim had dwindled to
; whisper. Ruth finally made a home
! but quickly he relapsed into the rol
! of 'hitless hero,"
I And then, as baseball crowds a
! ways do, it turned bit on Ruth. o.
! casional jeers spiced the cheer
! Eventually, as Ruth continued in hi
: slump the cheers died to whisper
7 and the boots began to dominate. Fc
y Ruth in six games made only tire
' hits in 81 trials.
! The smile that lighted Ruth's fac
on the first day of his return frol
the Elba of baseball, faded a bit til
/ lr