The Washington times., 1930-03-05
FIXED
ON SALARY
DEMAND

ST. PETERSBURG. Fla, March
5-Babe Ruth. still unsigned but
nevertheless working out with the
New York Yankees, prepared to-
day for a Showdown" with Col.
Jake Rupert, the club owner, on
the money question. Rupert Is
due here tomorrow night.
"Yes, I'm still a holdout but l
don't want to discuss it In the
papers," said Ruth at the BAN
park this morning as he slapped
out a few ''homers" for the
edification Of a. large crowd OF
tourists. Ruth was brown as a
berry and seemingly in good
physical condition. HatleSs and
wearing a heavy white sweater lie
went through his PAGES with The
vim of a rookie. He was one OF
the last players to leave the field.
Il weigh 222 pounds and never
felt better in my baseball career"
Ruth told International News
Service. "I've been getting in
shape for weeks. I did lot Of
bowling all winter and for the
last six weeks I have been play
ing golf almost daily. I have
been shooting in the seventies
right along. The best score I've
made was a To-"
Ruth looks better than at
this time last year when ne
reported overweight. His
1880 paunch is not as pro-
nOunced as the one he tOted
around early last season.
The Babe is insisting on a
three-year contract at $85 900 a
year.. Rupert has offered him
a two-year contract at $4,000 q
year. Ruths three-year contract.
at $4,000 a year expired at the
end of last seaosn. will you
sign for two years?" Ruth was
asked. His reply was: why ask
that?"
The real rub" between Ruth
and Rupert is over the duration
of the contract. not the sum per
year. Ruth knows he can not go
on forever and is angling for q
long term contract. Rupert
never knows when man OF the
Babes age will suddenly slow up.
st feel just as good today as /
did ten years ago." declared Ruth
when the writer asked him how
much longer he thought he could
stand the grind of major league
playing. "Of course I don't know
how long I will last but I sure
do not feel any signs of slowing
up. No. my legs are not giving
me any trouble.
"DO I think I'll play the
full schedule? Sure. Why
not? Say, am only 36."
The roster of the club lists
Ruth as 81. It must be wrong
for Ruth certainly was not
Judging year.
do you think you'll break
your record of so home runs?" he
was asked.
We'll, I'll sure try" he replied.
II was six weeks ahead last year
at one time. Wasn't that beau
tiful. And gee whiz. I had to get
sick and stay out of the game for
three weeks. That stopped me.
But I hope to have better luck
this year and go the full route"
Ruth hit a dozen balls into the
palm trees far beyond the center
/ fielder'S head. He warmed up
with a catcher near the first base
line, shooting the ball in with
speed and control. He remarked
concerning his pitching control
that "once you have it you always
have it." He shagged balls in
the outfield and even took a
workout as a first baseman. He
was dripping with perSpiration
when he dashed for the club
house. He was halted en- route
while tourists snapped dozens Of
pictures of him, ignoring the
other players.
The general belief of baseball
men is that Ruth and Rupert
will reach q compromise. There
is little danger that Ruth will
quit baseball. He likes the game
too much. The other day he re-
marked to a friend: Say, ! get
more kick out of hitting a home
run than Rupert does out of
making another million.
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