The Washington times., 1939-01-13
INTEREST KEEN

SASS@S NAUJ' MO', aLIu NCWdIkI
N. J.
INTEREST KEEN
Colonel Ruppert's interest in
those teams was so keen that he
could discuss the capabilities Of
any of the men on the clubs, and
estimate shrewdly the youngsters
chance of eventually becoming a
member Of the New York Yankees.
Impatient Of failure and medioc
rtty in any form, Rupert richly
rewarded ability. In 1880 he signed
q contract with Babe Ruth for
$4,000, the highest salary ever
paid to any ball player in the his
tory OF baseball. Men like Lou
Gehrig, Bill Dickey, Ruffing,
Gomez and the others are richly
rewarded for their efforts on the
Held. And SO if Joe DiMaggio,
Born on August 5, 1857, the year
his Bavarian father, Jacob Rup-
pert, sr., founded the brewery
which now Is valued at $35 ,O0O,.
600, Colonel Rupert grew up with
and was part Of the establish
ment throughout his life, mean
while increasing his fortune
through real estate operations and
his fame as owner of some of the
greatest baseball clubs ever as.
Sembled.
Thus was his life nodded along
lines at wide variance with the
career he had chosen for himself,
that Of a soldier. Heeding his
fathers pleas, he gave up his goal
OF obtaining West Point appoint
ment and entered the business
world.
FATHER RULED OUT ARMY
He never entirely gave UP his
love for the Army and, at %, was
a lieutenant in New York's crack
Seventh Regiment and a colonel
on the staff Of Gov. David B. Hill.
Through the years since those
early days honors and fame were
heaped upon him. He served two
terms in Congress and was offered
the nomination Of president Of
the New York city council, but
with his father steadfastly prod
ding him along in the brewing
business, he finally devoted vir-
tually all his time to it-until he
entered baseball in 1915.
NEVER MARRIED
A confirmed bachelor, he built
up a priceless library and one Of
the country's most magnificent
art collections; his holdings ever
lastingly mounted In the business
world and anything that money
could buy was his-but his
greatest achievement and most
valued possession was the Yam
KEGS.
No more avid baseball fan ever
entered a park than Colonel Rup-
pert, and probably no man in the
history Of the game helped so
much toward bringing the players
salaries to a higher level. His
greatest thrills were provided by
his clubs 10 pennant victories and
seven world series triumphs.
PEAK RUTH'S $4,000
To earn for the Yankees the
pre-eminent position they held in
baseball, he spent lavishly, paying
small fortunes for some of the
stars he gathered and maintain
ing their salaries on the same
level, with the all-time peak in a
players wages being reached in
1880 when he paid Babe Ruth
$4,000. The home-run hitter, who
was so much a part Of the Yam
KEGS, was signed again the fol-
lowing season at the same figure.
His popularity with the players
was striking. The hardbitten
young roughnecks fresh out Of the
minors with an lover the tracks"
background and the young col
legianS, all, almost to a man,
liked and admired the suave,
courteous, straightforward "old
colonel" and met him on common
ground-baseball.
MASTER MEDIATOR
Deprived of an education
beyond Columbia grammar school
because Of his fathers inSistence
that he prepare to take over the
fast growing brewery, Col. Rup
pert acquired polish in the bust
ness world and wealth Of in
formation on many subjects, but
was at his best in dealing with his
stars in the annual salary
Wrangles.
He knew and loved baseball and
he knew baseball values. He could
joust with the best Of them, from
the great Ruth himself to some
aspiring rookie, with equal effec.
tiveness. He paid the highest
salaries baseball has ever known
on the one hand. On the other
he would as soon see his team
wrecked as to give player more
than he thought he was worth.
STARS LEARNED LESSON
Ruth learned early how fal
Colonel Rupert would go. and as
late as the last few seasons. Joe
DiMaggio and Red Ruffing, two
Of his brightest Scintillants, final
ly had to sign their contracts al