Evening star., 1935-03-04
SAYS HE'S LUCKY
TO GET NEW lob
Best Part of World Trip
Was His Arrival Home.
Spurns Australia.
BY ALAN GOULD,


TN ROUTE TO ST. PETERS,
- BURG, Fla, March 4.-Busy
l. contemplating his chances Of
assaulting National League
pitching this year on behalf Of the
Boston Braves and impatient to get
into uniform tomorrow for the start
Of his twenty-second campaign in the
majors, Babe Ruth said today he had
no regrets over leaving the Yankees
and the American League.
II mean from the standpoint of base
ball and what It holds for me from
now on" he explained as the train
sped South.
"Of course, it's tough to pry myself
away from the old surroundings. !
will miss lot Of the fellows I've
played with. 1t will be funny to find
myself heading for the Polo Grounds
instead of the Yankee Stadium when
I make my next visit to the big town.
But I gave the Yankees everything
I had for IS years. guess left q
few records for 'em to shoot at during
my 81 years in the American League.
They were satisfied to let me 60
and that's their business. I have no
regrets. In fact, I think I'm a lucky
guy. have to pinch myself to real
ize that I'm in the National League
that 1t isn't a dream-but can say
truthfully never looked forward TO
a season with more enthusiasm than
I do this Spring"
TAYBE I was getting a bit fed
Nl up on the game after being so
long in the same spot. A
change is good for anybody in any
line OF work, guess, though I am
ready to admit that one trip around
the world is good enough for me for
all time.
They invited me to make a trip
TO Australia, next Winter, but I de-
clined with thanks. The best part of
that trip just finished was when I
got home and found out there was
really a job could land with the
Braves"
The Babe had "hunch" he might
60 to Boston, before he sailed for
the Orient, he revealed, although
nothing definite developed until he
returned.
He insisted there was no inside"
angle or story to the negotiations,
that the situation simply came quickly
to climax and that he was lucky
TO have had g boss like Col. Jake"
Rupert, willing to do him a favor.
I've got at least three years to
look forward to with the Braves hut
I'm primarily interested now in get-
ting into condition and helping Bill
McKechnie in every way I can. I'll
be disappointed II do not play In at
least 100 games during the champion
ship season"
u UTH added he expected to take
n part in all the exhibition games,
including the opener with the
Cincinnati Reds next Saturday. A
total of 26 are listed for the Braves,
including 9 with the Yankees, who
also train in st. Petersburg.
The Babe, 1t Is believed, will share
IN the profits of the Spring training
trip, as well as share in anything
the Braves may clear during the
championship season.
THE Braves need more power and
I sure hope I can add some to the
batting order" ventured the former
monarch Of all the fence-breakers.
Maybe I will help Wally Berger's
hitting. He has had to take the
brunt Of the cleanup job for the
Braves. It's tougher on the opposi-
ton pitcher to have to pitch to two
fellows who can take a toe-hold and
that's what I hope to be doing"
Looking backward, Ruth suggested
that the Yankees of the 192l.23
vintage probably were the greatest
combination he worked with during
his long stay in New York-they had
superlative pitching, as well as plenty
Of power-Earl Whitehill, the side
wheeler, gave Ruth as much trouble
over stretch of time as any pitcher
he can recall offhand-but he says
They are all tough when you are
not hitting"-he has taken along six
bats he had with the Yankees and
hopes to make good use of them all.