Evening star., 1956-08-30
WIN, LOSE OR
DKAW By FRANCIS srANN
The Day Babe Monoqed

1T WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO this month that Babe
Ruth died Eight years and two weeks to be exact and
the matter would have been overlooked here had not
clipping from a New York newspaper been in the mail
In an interview Babes widow talking about Ruth
and young Mickey Mantle saying graciousy that she
would be present to offer congratulations should Master
Muscles break the Babes record of so home runs.
don't think I'll be cheering to have his record broken
she was quoted THAT would be foolish, wouldn't it?
cause it wouldn't be true But somebody has to break it,
think it's quite fitting that it should be Yankee"
VI Not long before he died of Ruth made final
visit to his old haunts in Florida where he trained
many of his Is years with the Yankees 1t privilege
to be member of the small party Ruth revisited the
sights and scenes so rich in memory.
V
HE WAS FEEBLE AND WASTED and could speak only
in husky whisper One night he would go the Columbia
Restaurant in Tampa and the next to Capn Lees
Clearwater where the Babe Bob Meusel the other
old Yankees used to gather of evening and eat fabulous
quantities of shrimp dipped in hot sauce.
Now he could only order his favorite dishes of past
polo stone crab steak, pompano baked in
paper bag and up the delicacies with his fork
eating little because hurt to swallow Only cold beer felt
good in his ravaged throat and two bottles all
he could have of the brew.
# One Of the musng conversations with Ruth had
to do with the time he managed the Yankees Oh yes he
did SO manage from the Yankee dugout! For day.
although when he was about finished ballplayer he
seriously wanted the job and for bitter because
Bob Shawkey and later Joe Mccarthy got it.
Because he couldn't talk long in his eroaking voice it
only possible to piece together of his
managerial venure-a wartime charity game held on July
2S 943 eight after he had dropped out of baseball
-
HALF OF BABES TEAM were Yankees and the other
half Indians The opposition the North Carolina Pre-
Flight School In those days AIS abounded in the majors
but the PreFght and other service outfits loaded
Ted Williams and Johnny Sain only two of the many
Navy stars, SO Yankee Stadium packed Even sports
writer's paid their for game that for the benefit
Of the War Relief Fund and the Red Cross
Il enjoyed it, whispered the 81 got to the dressing
No
in it. They taking of the old Babe"
That the first time Ruth met Williams then
ganglng young who had only been in the big leagues
four years and yet had two batting titles in a row.
hitting 4O6 and then S56 it stitched together Ruth
tagged down Williams he headed for the Pre-Flight
dressing room and doomed:
e. Say, let's see those wrists" He grabbed bat and
extended it to Williams.
Ted, perhaps in awe of person for the last time in
his lfe protested mo-" he said, II want how to
hit home runs-from you"
THE BABE DRESSED in his bright uniform and sat on
the Yankee bench and tried to look like bench manager
But during hitting practice his eyes cleaned He was 81
years old but finally he couldn't stand any longer He
picked out bat and started for the batting cage
M The crowd cheered. This worth waiting for-Ruth
at bat again If he took few batting swings perhaps he
might also play.
"You know did real good in practice" he was saying
one night in Florida. Il put two in the rghteld seats
maybe three. But sat out most of the ball game Until
about the sixth seventh inning don't remember"
Minor research reveals that in the sixth inning the
Babe asked an unframed Cleveland pitcher, Ray Poat
he could Swing for him" He narrowly missed home run
OF sain when drive curved just foul Finally he drew
walk
Even then he didn't quit He pulled into second base
tagging up after long fly, but at the spraned
ankle Reluctantly he signaled for pinch-runner and
then headed for the barn. turning the management of
the Yankees Indians to Coach Art Fletcher.
He'd had his day as manager. Just he disappeared
out OF sight he turned to the standing cheering crowd and
tipped his cap in the familiar salute
That's trick that Williams who in 1943 looked on
Ruth In awe, never has learned