The Washington times., 1934-01-01
By GARRY SCHUMACHER

BY GARRY SCHUMACHER
In the twilight of his amazing
career, and he admittedly is only
q year or two away from his last
diamond round up, it is still an
even. chance that Babe Ruth's
greatest baseball feat is still Tor
the future to witness.
For the Babe, above and be-
yond everything else, is the felloW
who always does it better the next
, time. A goal achieved means TO
him only that another must DC
won.
His whole career is series OF
eiimaxeS.
He touched a baseball peak
when he hit 90 home runs. Tne
neak was only the jumping
nlace to higher levels. The Babe
fffted the home run total beyond
"a. then so, and finally he
achieved so. Always q new record
1new heights.
c Always OutdOes FeatS
And so, too, he stepped up
heiehtened the thrills for the on
lockers. A longest" home rum
hit in Chicago, he topped with a
blast at Detroit, and that one with
. wallop that cleared the house
tops a block away from shibe
Park in Philadelphia.
And, of course, the most dra,
matte, thrilling incidents ana
episodes he reserved for world
series action. His natural, IN.
stinctive showmanship demanded
that, It was in a world series that
! he pitched q consecutive score
less innings, and it was a world
series that he hit three home runs:
But those feats were recorded
In years agone; a new world Sc
ries, that of 1882 in Chicago, pre-
sented him with new opportun"
ties. Of course, he responded
with a stunt that was utterly un-
believable, insane, impossible.
= Not only did he hit a series
clinching home run-but he called
p his shot. He told in advance the
raging Chicago fans and the cha
arined Chicago pitcher where he
would hit the ball-the deepest
point in the park and then
dropped it there.
Something Better Yet?
Seemingly that must be tops,
the Babes last and greatest geS-
ture. But don't bet on it. Not
If fortune should give the Babe
another world series chance.
Still, if that doesn't happen,
4 and the Babe really has closed
out his career with this unbeliev'
able home run, it will do. For
most Of those who saw it, it was
the thrill Of a baseball lifetime:
all agreed that only Ruth could
have done it.
The Incidents background took
form q month earlier. The pen
nant winning Cubs, voting to
split their world series spoils,
omitted their deposed manager,
. Rogers Hornsby, and limited Mark
' Koenig, veteran ShortStop who
|. rallied the team in the later
stages Of the pennant race, to
half a share.
KOenig's Share Is Cause
AS a member of the Yankees a
few years before Koenig had been
. particular buddy of Ruth's, and
the generous, open-handed Babe.
when he heard the news, took pub
lie exception to the division al
lotted the Chicago shortstopper.
He remarked to newspapermen:
! "The cheapest thing ever
heard Of"
And when he got onto the field
with the Cubs at New York, he
went further and beloved from
the bench:
"a gang Of cheap skates like
you must be yellow. We'u beat
you four straight"
And so started feud the Babe
Waged through all the series. He
taunted the Chicago players,
abused and ridiculed them. And
emphasized his remarks with a
Houple of long hits that helped
the Yankees win the first two
games at the Stadium.
Feud Grows Tense
As the series moved into Chi
Cago the feud became the series
most important issue. Reinforce
ments Joined the Cubs at Wrigley
Field. The fans rallied to their
support and launched a verbal
counter-offensive upon the Babe.
His every appearance, his every
move was jeered.
When he stepped to the plate
4 IN the first inning, someone threw
. lemon. More followed. The
Babes answer was a home run
over the right field barrier,
blast good for three runs in that
It found Earl Combs and joey
Sewell on the bases.
Sets Shakespearean Stage
The chagrined fans had no i'm
mediate answer to that gesture,
but as the game progressed their
spirits rose again. The Cubs put
on a rally in the fourth to tie
the score at 4 to 4-and all were
lin good voice, fans and players,
4 when Ruth stepped to the plate
again in the fifth.
The derisive shouts from the
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