Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-11

Lnere is no Babe Ruth League here. I'd
see the looks the faces of the kids when they the
biggest playing field in baseball"
HERB GoREN IS pleasant little guy who once held
job that was the of millions provided they big
store by laughs and didn't too much about money
hours Herb used to the Brooklyn Dodgers for the
New York Sun and for the New York Compass.
Now Herb is in town this assignment namely lining
up the Babe Ruth League finals. And what is the Babe
Ruth League?
organized bali for kids too old for the Little League
and too young for American Legion ball."
plains. Little League ages range years. Aeri-
can Legion from 1e to r. Until three there
a gap in boys baseball program. bad time in boys
life to have nothing to do, too"
The first two it called the Little Bigger League
Nearly everybody thoroughly confused" Goren admits
Some called the Bigger Little League instance
somebody hit the idea naming the program after Ruth
They play pretty good ball." Goren says. 1--WE talked
quite few professional baseball people. They think that
at time when Class and minor leagues dying lot
of small communities will depend these kids"
NAMING THE PROGRAM after Babe Ruth meets with
Herb Gorens heartiest approval. The Babe Herbs
hero when Goren cub baseball writer following the
Dodgers and writing due to wm the part of the old
Sun, under the bylne of "The Old Scout"
Il win tell you story about Ruth that nobody wrote
except me-, Herb saying 81 thought it good little
yarn but even my paper buried it."
Anyway Ruth wound his after hitting those
three famous home in Pittsburgh for the Braves
in 1885 Well covering the Dodgers 1888 which
Larry MacPhais first year Burleigh was
his manager The Dodgers were sxthpace club and the
fans staying home
ION June 49, 1888, MacPhai got about the at
tendance and announced the signing of Babe Ruth
coach for the balance of the To Ruth of
retirement MacPhai promised him $4,000"
THE DAY RUTH reported to the Dodgers Goren was
remembering to remember "He brought along
old bats he relates which coach to do
All the Dodgers crowded around Ruth looking at him
too awestruck to ask questions:
Babe let them het his bats those 40ounce clubs with
the thick handles Even Dolph Camill strong boy
couldn't swish Ruth'S bats
Babe used to take batting practice He and Babe
drive more balls into the ghed seats During champion
ship Ruth coached first but MacPha now that he
had Babe, booked exhibitions every OFF day and used
Ruth as his first baseman.
WELL day sitting in the Dodger dugout with
John Mcdonald the road secretary when Ruth up
to John and said:
You know John, I've thinking See all those kids
In the beachers? They play. It August
81 and increase squad to 40 We haven't got
players so wouldn't be spelling anybody's chance
You mean 2 Mcdonald asked. Babe, you're As
years old
81 mean want to play Ruth said Grimes won't want
me in the regular lineup but pinch hit thing is
those kids have never seen play"
MCDONALD" GOREN RESUMED, went to Macphail
with Ruth's proposition. MacPhall took it up with Bur-
leigh Grimes The managers fiat no.
RuthS right eye is bad, Grimes explained That's his
hitting eye Sure he hit practice But in
game when they curve him well, I'm afraid he'll get
hurt. # he can still hit, still PITCH
II don't know If Grimes was afraid that Ruth was
threat for his job what sad but he discouraged him
And ne succeeded, too. Babe disappointed. for
himself because he indeed 43 hit 704 honers
already He was disappointed because the kids hadn't seen
him.
So" Goren concluded, Ruth didn't remain long He
quit the last week In September and that the time
he uniform"