Seward daily gateway., 1925-05-20


 chased from the Red Sox for $125,- 900. Baseball men thought that Colonels Ruppert and Huston, who then owned the Yankees, had gone daffy to pay such price for ball player. But the purchase turned out to be wise investment. All attendance records were broken dur ing the season of 1921, when Ruth hit 59 home runs. It was a mark that no one had the audacity to think would ever be approached. It was recalled that Frank Baker earned the title of home run king for hitting about a dozen homers in one season. Ruth made business good all over the circuit and he put several clubs with lean treasuries on their feet by the crowds that he drew on the road.
 Forced New Stadium.
 His appeal was so strong to the public that the Yankee owners had to spend more than $2,0O0,O00 for a new stadium that would seat 10000 spectators. Again the conservatives of baseball said they were crazy, but the Babe packed them in. His hitting and all around playing help ed largely in getting three pennants for the Yankees and the dividends he made on the investment repre- sented in him never can be com puted.
 With all the fame came to him and all the notice that he attracted, he remained the same Babe Ruth that had played with the orphans. He has consuming love for boys and wherever he went he was fol- lowed by mobs of adoring young sters. Yankee players tell hundreds of stories how the Babe during the training season or on barn storming trips would appear just about sum- down at his hotel, with the sweat steaming off him and his face cov- cred with dirt, after spending a couple of hours playing on corner lot with some kids.
 They tell the story of the time that he rode thirty miles out in the country to see a little fellow who was crying because pneumonia had taken him down and prevented him from seeing the great Babe in. an exhibition and how the father broke down on the Babes big shoulders and wept- and how the Babe wept with him. u
 Hours can be consumed with stories about the big heart in the Babe. They have to be told by others, because the Babe always was modest about the deeds that he thought to be nothing out of the or dinary.
 Ruth was a great friend to every one but himself. He was so big and strong that he didn't need much training and he could have a good time for himself without hurting his game. He was making piles of money and he liked to have a good time and see his friends have good time.
 The Babe Slipping.
 Finally it reached the point where he realized that he was speeding on the end of his career. He was an awful bust in the 1922 series when he batted because he wasn't in shape.
 Just before Christmas his friends organized a little party for him in New York in the hope that someone could put him on the pan" and make him realize that he was hurt ing himself.
 The toastmaster at the affair was State Senator James J. Walker, father of the Sunday baseball and the boxing laws of New York state. Walker is one of the most. eloquent speakers in New York and he is particularly at his best when he is talking to baseball or boxing din- ner.
 You, Babe,' he shouted, pointing at. the Babe, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You have a sacred duty to the little dirty-faced kids in the alleys and you're throw ing them down!"
 Ruth rose when his turn came to talk. He hung his head for mo- ment, gulped several times and then lifted his glass. re
 ''This boys," he said, lis my last drink for the year. I'm going up to the farm and work and I'll be in shape when I go south
 The Babe Braced
 He was in shape and he has kept himself fairly in condition since that time st
 The Babe had so much money that he didn't know how to take care of