The Washington times., 1922-07-30
RUTH SORRY
TO SEE BAKER
LOSE THIRD"
Dugan's Acquisition by Yanks
Ends Wonderful Career OF
"GentIeman OF Baseball
BY BABE RUTH

BY BABE RUTH.
His first 81 games this year,
II home runs. II
His first 81 games last year,
16 home runs.
This date last year COS games)
36 home runs.
~ HICAGo, July 2s.-When the
\ Yankees acquired jumping
~ Joe" Dugan IN a trade with
the Boston Red Sox, they cap
tured one. Of the leading third
basemen of recent years, and q
player who should be good for at
least five years to come. At the
same time they practically ter
minated the major league career
Of an athlete who has done about
as much to elevate the game TO
its present high moral tone as
any other man that ever swung
a bat.
have reference. OF course. to j.
Franklin Baker, whose long-dtstance
hitting i'm the world series OF 1911
won him the title Of "home-run"
Baker. Now that the Yankees have
landed Dugan, a hard and prolific
hitter as well as brilliant fielder.
Il is more than doubtful that Baker
will ever play third base again as q
regular and I do not believe that he
will care to return to the game next
season as a utility man., pysF
Even during the years Of his great.
est fame on the diamond Baker was
noted primarily as a hitter. In his
heavy, awkward style he was also
q great defensive player, but because
he lacked the flashy brilltance OF
faster, more graceful players. he
never received the credit he deserved
as a player. I.F' y. - -aatt.'' ''
Saved Many Games
He hit balls that burned through
other third basemen, for hits were
his particular dish. and many a game
was saved for the Athletics and the
Yanks through his peculiar ability to
make killing plays on smashes that
rival players couldn't even stop.
Even now, after more than fifteen
years of almost continuous service,
on the ball field, Baker has one OF
the strongest and most accurate
throwing arms in the game. i don't
believe he ever had a sore arm In
his life and j know that. despite his
age, he was the first Yankee infield-
er to start cutting" 'em loose At the
training camp this spring. Like Ev-
erett Scott he has an India rubber
arm. and IL he Is now in the twilight
of long and honorable career Of the
diamond 1t is because his legs have
gone back on him.
II Bakers legs were as strong as
his arms he still would be one or
the ranking third basemen Of the
game. For the past couple Of years.
however. he has been showing un,
ffiistakable signs nof slowing UP ann
has, moreover, grown brittle. He II
easily susceptible, to injuries to his
legs and the chances are that he
could not be fit for service more than
half the time II he did decide to re-
main In the game.
Baker VIII Retire.
1t is my impression, however,
that Baker will retire at the close
OF the present season. He wanted
TO quit several years ago and on
numerous occasions since, but year
after year was prevailed upon to
try II just once more" As long
as he thought that the Yankees
fully needed him he was willing
10 sacrifice his personal feelings
IN the matter and postpone his re-
tirement, but now that the 9ankees
have landed a real star to replace
him II is likely that he will quietly
and finally pass out. .... ....
Baker in his time was one o.
the greatest hitters the game has
ever produced. with happy fac
ulty for making his wallops count.
He almost never famed in a pinch,
seldom batted into double plays.
was vital factor In the successes
achieved by the old Philadelphia
Athletics from 1910 to 1914 and for
several years thereafter was largely
instrumental in keeping the
Yankees up in the race,
He was the Yankees regular
third baseman during the first half
of the 1921 campaign which ulu-
mately resulted in,> the, New York
club winning its first american
League pennant, but suffered ais
abling accidents along about mid
summer and did not get into the
game again until injuries forced
Mike McNally out OF the world
series.
He was our first string third
baseman again this spring, but two
Of his ribs were broken when he
was hit In the side with pitched
bell In the opening game Of our
first series at st. Louis and has
played only a few games since.