The New York herald., 1922-03-06
BABE ruth SIGNS
AT $4,000 A YEAR,
$500 A Home RUN
Yankees Make Him Highest
Paid Athlete in World
for Five Years.
WINS TOSS OF A COIN
Rupert, Here. Listens In
on Phone While Huston
Flips and Loses.
In A SCHOOL Is YEARS Ago
Out of Catholic Institution.
the Mighty Batsman's Rise
Is BasebaIl's Epic.
IN A SCHOOL Is YEARS AGO

Babe George Helman) Ruth yes
terday became the highest paid ath-
lete in the world. He signed five
year contract with the New York
Yankees calling Tor a salary of be-
tween $4,000 and 100000 a year with
bonus of $500 for each home run
hit during the regular season.
Col. Tillinghast LHommedieu Hus-
ton. half owner and secretary of the
Yankees. signed the contract at Hot
Springs while Col Jacob Rupert.
president Of the club. listened in on
the telephone from his home at Tar
rytown. Col. Huston and Ruth had
been dickering all Saturday at the
Eastman Hotel at Hot Springs. The
final figures Of the Yankee owners
had been given to Ruth. but he shook
his touseled head.
''Taint enough" he said and sub
mitted counter proposals. Col Huston
declared his figures represented all
that the Yankee owners would pay.
Finally Ruth said. "will you gamble,
Colonel? One flip of the coin for my
figures or yours
Rupert Listens In.
"I'll gamble if Rupert will" replied
Col Huston. WYATT till / get him on
the phone
So it happened that a few hours
after midnight Col. Rupert was hailed
out Of bed TO get in touch with Hot
Springs He was wide awake the mo
ment the news dawned on him.
Shake him, Colonel said Rupert.
I'm hold the phone"
Over the wire Col. Rupert could
hear the Jingle OF coin on the floor.
Then Col. Huston's voice came over the
wire. II lost" lie said. I'VE are sign
ing Ruth on his own terms for five
years. Is that correct?"
That is correct" said Col. Rupert.
I'VE gambled and we lost. or maybe
after all we won"
BY this bit Of melodrama George Her
man Ruth. who fifteen years ago was
2 gangling inmate Of a worthy Catholic
institution at Baltimore, became assured
OF half million dollare for five more
years Of baseball. Horatio Alger at
his best never wrote as vivid and color
ful boys story as Babe Ruth has
lived.
Fifteen years ago the good brothers
at the Baltimore institution were gravely
concerned as to the future OF George
Herman Ruth. He was not quick at his
lessons and he was mischievous. He
could do nothing well but play baseball
The brothers had decided that he was
70 learn the cigarmakipg trade and let
1t 80 at that. II w0 the best they
could do with a tousle headed, awkward
lad who was good humoredly perverse
and left handed in the bargain.
biggest Of Them All.
But yesterday morning Babe Ruth be-
came potentially the wealthiest athlete OF
them all. John j. McCraw. manager OF
the Giants. drew the biggest salary in
baseball until then. He is credited with
receiving something like $4,000 year
Judge kenesaw Mountain Lands. the
high arbiter Of baseball (Ruth has met
him professionally gets $4,000 year.
Byron Bancroft Johnson. president Of
the American League. gets $4,000.
or the active players Tyrus Raymond
Cobb. player manager Of the Detroit
Tigers, probably gets the highest salary
His $4,000 a year Is mere pittancc
compared to the amount for which Babe
Ruth has just signed. The great Christy
Mathcwson never got more than 10000
"a year-"Matty," whose name will live
while baseball Is played. Tristram
Speaker OF the Cleveland Indians gets
something like $4,000 year. Finan-
claily they all become pygmies COM
pared to Babe Ruth.
Neither Col. Rupert nor Col. Huston
will divulge the exact terms Of the con-
tract. but they admit the straight salary
Is more than $4,000 and not above
500, 900. The home run bonus clause
Continued ON Page Eleven.
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