The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-14
TWELVE Tits AND COUNTY MEET ON CITY BILL
TALKING
IT OVER
by JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, Jan. At pains
me very much TO note that
some of my contemporaries have
beaten an ancient and time honored
release date. For years and years
1t has been the custom to start
writing about Babe Ruth's girth
control on Jan. Is. This date was
set arbitrarily by a committee OF
baseball writer's back in the palmy
and halcyon days of 1920, after the
sport world had been rocked by
Ruths sale to the Yankees by the
Red Sox for 100000.
In the past week. however, there have
been no fewer than seven stories dealing
With the Babes poundage, his efforts TO
reduce under the direction Of Mons.
Arthur McGovsrn, and other personal data
peculiar and germaine to the subject.
n
This would indicate either that the Babe
natter .e0oTa an R1u Inclined q 6eieys that
s The matter tTscss to soo So ~ W4aSEn 81
and the space devoted TO the recent
wrsngling between the New York boxing
cam and w %d sehd to bear out
the impression this is strange winter.
A. s for Ruth, it is quite patent
N that in spite Of his having been
dethroned as home run king by the
voluminous Hack Wilson, the Babe
still retains his outstanding posi-
ton as a sporting marvel. Rivals
may come and rivals may go. They
may even better Babes record OF
sixty homers. But Ruth will con-
tinue to stand out just so long as he
remains in the picture.
q r.
II doesn't seem that long, but here he
is getting ready for his twelfth season
with the Yankees! Except for ietdown
in his home run manufacture, except for
the addition Of a few pounds to the
official January statistics, Ruth looks little
changed from the Babe Of half dozen
years ago. Yes, he's more sedate. But
not sedate enough to spoil him!"
that on Jan: la, 1880, he scaled 2 9s
Weight at this stage for years and years,
and it is not for me TO start any lnno-
vations.
VXTHEN Ruth was sold by Harry
wv Frazee to Jake RUPERT and
Colonel Huston, the owners Of the
Yankees made a great TODD in the
matter of secrecy. They refused to
divulge the exact amount paid for
the home run king.
n n
some Of the scribes said 1t was S15O,OOO.
Some cut 1t to $4,000 to make 1t look
more authentic. But in the last year
il has been disclosed by Colonel Rupert
that the price was 100000.
n
I'VE certainly thought it was a lot of
money in those days and we debated and
debated but Hug finally wore. US down.
we pay 100000 for kid in the minors,
and pay it without having seen the boy.
The game has changed"
T. n
It certainly has changed. when you find
the st. Louis Cardinals asking $15O,OOO
for Jim BottomIey. the first baseman who
was one of the busts OF the 1880 world
series. I have 1t on reliable authority
that Sam Breadon has asked about $4,000
in players and the rest In cash for Jim's
release.
CHICAGO mathematicians have
~ figured it out for me. They
say that Bottomley would go at q
pennant pace for perhaps one full
season. This would mean that jim
would have to draw about 81 600
game to make him a worth while
investment And we haven't figured
his salary. which would be in the
neighborhood of $4,000.
4 q
OF course, there Is nothing in baseball
law that says Bill Wrigley must take
Breadon seriously. But IL all sort Of fits
in with the wrestling craze, the New
York boxing commission and the advance
mept Of tho Ruth girth control release
date to confirm the impression that this
Is funny winter.