Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-08
WIN, LOSE or
DNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
Saliva Test

EVEN FOR TED WILLIAMS, SIS 900 is a whopping fine
and the chances Ted didn't him at the time
As you must know, the only other bapayer to be
fined as much as Gs was Babe Ruth and it is perhaps
appropriate to examine the two in the interests of
further developments
Back in 1925, when the Babe drew the al-me record
fine, star reborn After the first binding, red flash
of Ruth went to his greatest glory Now the ques
ton is Can Williams also above historic reprmand?
Until Ted does so, there is really striking parallel
General Manager Joe Cronin of the Red sox with the
full approval of Owner Tom Yawkey is filming performer
who, although nearing 3d. is batting 347 and of late has
been meaning the difference between victory defeat for
the Invest ball clubs the majors And splitting
displaying his contempt for the inmates of the Boston press
box and for the fans.
Spit is horrd word $4,000 word, Ruths sins
were less vena perhaps although Ted and Babes added
to the thing Both must have felt they bigger
than the game. Ah yes, the game.
IN 1924 RUTH was at his peak He was the American
League batting champion Cs78 and the home king
4s). But whereas Williams hot 81 pistol when
Cronin lowered the BOOM Ruth was bust And as Babe
went, so went the Yankees-down.
For all of his fame first pitcher and then the
great home hitter Ruth put his bohood too far
behind him. The of 1925 he dedicated to fun He
became man of the night overeating, overwhelming,
rarely sleeping Life was lark and baseball was too easy
and paid too much.
1t will be remembered that the Yankees won three
straight pennants-1921 23-and finished second to the
Senators in "a But in rs they in the process wind
ing up seventh and Ruth hitting less than $50 Little
Miller Higgins the whose insomnia stemmed from
Ruth, was at his wits end
The showdown in August, when the Yankees were
in St Louis Ruth apparently unperurbed by his batting
after eight successive of 300 better
completely the that he did his
bed in the Yankees hotel for couple of nights
AFTER THE SECOND NIGHT-Babe was dutfuly tailed
by private detective incidentaly-he arrived ardy at
Sportsman and started suit up Higgins him.
II had personal business to take Of" Ruth
ventured.
You've had personal business lately" Higgins
retorted Don't bother suspended And
filming you $1,000"
Ruth hit the ceiling In blind anger he vowed never
again to play for Higgins and entraned promptly New
York to hand Owner Jake Rupert utmatum, to wit:
Ruth Higgins
This big news When he arrived in New York a
milling throng awaited, to cheer and hecke
Ruth found his wife in bed in state semi-coapse
stormed RuppertS Office.
long time later Babe emerged, obviously defeated
Boys he told newsmen, I'm sorry for what's happened
I'm going to apologize to Higgins"
HE DID APOLOGIZE. And, while not to be confused
with Billy Sunday he became different balpayer and
person Babe hit 372 the next and in 81 of course
Ruth slammed that record total of 60 home After
that 5000 fine he reeled off straight which
he regned again as the dangerous and dramatic sugger
of old.
Higgins epic fine did not destroy the Babe. On the
contrary, Ruth became strongly pro- higgins
Of the few survivors when the little Miller acting with the
approval of Rupert and Ed Barrow broke up the Yankees
and built new cubthe one that to win three
pennans in row Q926-28l-and be called the greatest
ever assembled,
In his memoirs the late Ed Barrow who built .the
Yankees into empire disclosed that Higgins always
fearful that his fine would not stick. Despite Ruth's
allegiance after the monumental docking, Miller
adamant. Higgins passed 1929 therefore could
not know that some time after his death Barrow gave the
$4,000 back TO the Babe.
WHAT EFFECT CRoNINS FINE will have on Williams
remains to be The money itself can't too much
at the rate Ted coming it. 1t little
25 was spending his $4,000 salary he
Ruth was Inundated, but above it, Indeed at one
time Ban Johnson president Of the American League
patched singing letter to Babe which suggested
the stars attitude warped" that he continued
his abuse of umpres and misconduct of the field baseball
would be better of without Nobody has to be reminded
that Ruth walked into the Hall as soon as the
gates were opened.
Williams is prime Hall Of Fame material too Until last
MONTH July when he took up splitting he was automatic as
soon as he met non-playng eligibility requirements has
much as halo not requisite Ted will be joining at
Cooperstown of these days doubt possibly to be
rendered as the foremost spit-her Of his day.
Meanwhile in Boston the die-hards may we'll be wonder
ing how this will affect the hottest club in the league And
0n,y Williams can supply the answer