Babe Ruth and Ownership: Not a Match Made In Heaven

Babe Ruth, right, battled fiercely with Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and manager Miller Huggins over the years. (NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY)

He filled the ballpark with fans who craved to see him hit the long ball. His home runs forever changed the game from scientific baseball to power hitting, and he helped make people forget about the Black Sox scandal. Baseball owners cashed in on his uncanny ability to hit the baseball over the fence, but those owners also knew that having him under contract came with a price. Babe Ruth gave owners many headaches and more than a few gray hairs. He also made life difficult for his managers, umpires, and the commissioner. “He is one of the most selfish and inconsiderate players to ever put on a uniform,” said Red Sox owner Harry Frazee.1 “Ruth has taken more money from the Yankees than I have,” said Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert during a salary squabble with Ruth.2 Jack Dunn, Ruth’s first professional baseball manager, once warned him to cool it or go home.

Babe Ruth’s disrespect for authority began early in life. His parents, too occupied with their own issues, allowed him to run wild in the streets of Baltimore. With no supervision, he hung with the wrong crowd. Young Ruth stole, chewed tobacco, played hooky, and found other ways to cause trouble. “I learned to fear and hate the coppers and I threw apples and eggs at the truck drivers,” he said about his childhood.3 One time he took a dollar from the till of his father’s saloon to buy ice cream for his friends. When his father learned about it, he took his son down to the cellar and gave him a thrashing. The lesson went unlearned, however, and young Ruth continued to steal from the till.

On June 13, 1902, the 7-year-old Ruth was sent across town to live at St. Mary’s Industrial School for boys, a Roman Catholic training school for orphans, delinquents, runaways, incorrigibles, and boys who were from broken homes. Ruth was listed as incorrigible. He and the other boys were expected to abide by the rules, and if they failed to do so, they were punished. “These were used on Babe Ruth,” a friend of Ruth’s was told when guided to a room that had straps hanging from the walls during a tour of the home in later years.4 “I used to get my discipline the old-fashion way. I knew when I had it coming,” Ruth said about his time at St. Mary’s.5 Most of his offenses were due to smoking and chewing tobacco. While at St. Mary’s, Ruth met a man, a Xaverian brother who was an authoritative figure and whom Ruth had the utmost respect for. “The greatest man I’ve ever known,” Ruth would say about Brother Mathias, who spoke to the boys in a gentle manner and kept the discipline to the maximum.6 “He was calm, considerate and gave everyone a fair break,” a former resident recalled about Brother Mathias, “but if you ever double-crossed him, you were in big trouble.”7

Brother Mathias ran the baseball program at St. Mary’s, and he assigned every boy to a school team. Ruth excelled in the program to the point where he was placed on the school team, which represented St. Mary’s in a league that played against other schools. He became so good that he caught the eye of Jack Dunn, the owner and manager of the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. Amazed that there were professional baseball leagues, Ruth had to ask Dunn to be sure he wasn’t dreaming. “You mean you’d pay me?” he asked. Dunn laughed before answering. “Sure, I’ll start you out at six-hundred per year.” Ruth was awed when hearing this. “You mean six-hundred dollars?” Ruth asked. “That’s right,” Dunn confirmed.8 Ruth was also surprised that the Orioles would pay for his meals. “You mean I can eat what I want, and it won’t cost me anything?” he asked. “Sure, anything,” a teammate confirmed.9 That was all he needed to hear. Ruth ate and ate, and when he came up for air while devouring his third serving of wheat cakes and ham, he noticed that his teammates were watching in amazement. “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it,” a teammate said.10 Dunn, with a wide grin on his face, walked over to Ruth and placed his hand on the rookie’s shoulder. “We’ve got twenty-seven other fellows on this club,” Dunn told him, “Leave them some food, will you?”11

Ruth traveled with Dunn and the rest of the Orioles to Fayetteville, North Carolina, for spring training in 1914. And it didn’t take Ruth long to get into hot water. Dunn had given Ruth $5 to tie him over until he received his first paycheck. Ruth, seeing an elevator for the first time in his life, was fascinated. Like a little boy, he rode up and down the platform, instructing the hotel elevator operator to stop at each floor and open the door so he could poke his head out and look left and right. During a stop, the operator put the elevator in motion while Ruth was still scanning a floor. Luckily, a veteran yelled for Ruth to duck inside in the nick of time. When Dunn learned about the near-mishap and that Ruth had spent most of the $5 to bribe the elevator operator for rides, the manager bawled out the rookie. A few days later, Ruth persuaded a boy to lend him his bicycle. Ruth rode the bike at high speed, barreled around a street corner, and almost collided with Dunn. He then plowed into the back of a wagon and fell heavily to the ground. Ruth climbed to his feet while grinning with embarrassment. “If you want to go home, kid, just keep riding those bikes,” Dunn warned.12

Ruth had a relationship with Dunn that he would never have with another manager or owner. Dunn had taken over guardianship of Ruth from St. Mary’s, who had previously received that role from Ruth’s parents. One day Dunn practically took Ruth by the hand as he escorted him from the clubhouse to the pitcher’s mound. “Look at Dunnie and his Babe,” someone quipped.13 Some believe that was how George Herman Ruth got his nickname.

In mid-season 1914, with Dunn having financial difficulties, he began to sell his players. One day he called Ruth and two other players into his office to inform them that they were heading to the majors. They had been sold to the Boston Red Sox. Ruth wasn’t impressed. Dunn excused the other two players and spoke with Ruth. He told him that the Red Sox were the big leagues and his salary would be increased. Ruth said it wasn’t about money. Baltimore was home, the only home he knew. Dunn told Babe he had no choice.

In 1915 Red Sox owner Joe Lannin gave Ruth a $3,500 contract for the season, which made the young ballplayer very happy, for he had never seen that kind of money. “He had no idea whatsoever about money,” said Red Sox manager Bill Carrigan. “He was getting $3,500 and that was all the money in the world. He didn’t seem to think it would ever run out. He’d buy anything and everything. So, I drew Babe’s pay and gave him a little every day. That generally lasted for about five minutes.”14

After the 1916 season Harry Frazee, a 36-year-old New York theatrical man, bought the Red Sox. In 1917 Frazee came to Ruth’s rescue after a dispute with an umpire that threatened to put Ruth on the suspension list. On June 23 Ruth was the Red Sox’ starting pitcher against the Washington Senators in Boston. Disagreeing with an umpire’s call, and after words were exchanged, Ruth belted the umpire. A heavy fine with a long suspension was certain, but Frazee, said to be a likable guy, sweet-talked American League President Ban Johnson into a reduced fine amount of $100 and a suspension of just 10 days.15

In 1918 the Red Sox players persuaded new manager Ed Barrow to put Ruth into the everyday lineup. Barrow, certain the 23-year-old Ruth was on his way to becoming one of the game’s best pitchers, hesitated. Through the 1917 season, Ruth had hit nine homers in 361 at-bats, an amount that was almost good enough to lead the American League. Barrow tried it. The experiment was successful, and Ruth’s popularity began to grow. Ruth was used in the everyday lineup and took his turn in the starting pitching rotation. The double duty combined with his active night life wore him out to the point where he was hospitalized.

Ruth loved to hit home runs and wanted to be a position player in the everyday lineup. He decided his pitching days were history. Barrow disagreed. The manager knew Ruth was one of the best pitchers in the league and left-handed pitchers were hard to come by. Ruth denied the manager’s requests to pitch and kept making excuses to avoid it. He told the manager to stop bugging him. “I’m tired,” Ruth said. “If you would get to bed on time, you wouldn’t be so tired,” said Barrow.16 In Washington, Ruth swung when instructed to take the pitch. Barrow fined him $500. Ruth responded by leaving and heading back to Baltimore. He got in touch with a shipyard team and agreed to join. Frazee did not know this until he was informed while seated in the grandstand in Philadelphia, watching his Red Sox in action. He told the writers that Ruth had a contract with the Red Sox and could not do this and he would go to court if need be.17 Knowing Ruth liked and respected Red Sox coach Heinie Wagner, Frazee instructed Wagner to go to Baltimore and fetch Ruth. Wagner did as he was told, visited Ruth and persuaded him to rejoin the Red Sox. When Ruth returned, Barrow gave him a cold shoulder. Upset about being ignored, Ruth blew up. He took off his uniform and said he was quitting for good. Wagner and Frazee and a few others surrounded him, calmed him, and persuaded to him stay. Frazee then spoke with Barrow and persuaded him to forgive. Barrow agreed to waive the fine, and Ruth agreed to pitch.

The year 1919 was the beginning of the end for the Red Sox era of dominance. Frazee began to trade and sell his best players. After winning three pennants and three World Series starting in 1915, the Red Sox fell to 66-71 and finished in sixth place. The Red Sox owner was losing money in his theater business and because of the risky deal he made when he bought the Red Sox for a high cost of $675,000. Two of Frazee’s backers had paid half the amount in notes, putting him in a bind from the beginning. The owner became unpopular with the Boston fans and with Ruth, who continuously poked him by complaining that the Red Sox were a lousy outfit.18

Yankees manager Miller Muggins knew about Frazee’s financial woes. The New York manager, known as the Mite Manager because he stood just 5-feet-4, advised Yankees owners Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast Huston that Ruth might be available. Confirming that the controversial Boston star could be obtained, the Yankees owners went to work. “Selling Babe Ruth was the only way I could retain the Red Sox,” Frazee would later say.19 The deal cost the owners $100,000, plus a $350,00 loan.

Ruth didn’t know anything about it. He had gone to Los Angeles. Huggins traveled west for an unscheduled meeting with his new star. After arriving in town, Huggins headed to the Griffith Park Golf Course and waited by the clubhouse, knowing Ruth would pass by after he completed his golf game. Finally, Ruth appeared, shaking his head after a poor round. He was eager to play another round before sundown, and while heading to the first tee, he met his new manager. Huggins introduced himself and told Ruth he would like to talk with him. Ruth said he didn’t have time; he had to go somewhere.

Huggins: “Babe, would you like to play for the New York Yankees?”

Ruth: “Have I been traded?”

Huggins: “[hesitates] … The deal has yet to be finalized.”

Ruth: “I like Boston and playing for the Red Sox. But I’ll give you my best if traded. Just like I did in Boston.”

Huggins: “Babe, you have been a pretty wild boy in Boston. In New York, you’ll have to behave.”

Ruth: “I already told you I will play the best I can. Let’s get down to business. How much are you going to pay me?”

Huggins: “You have two years left on your contract for $10,000 per season.”

Ruth: “I want more dough than that.”

Huggins: “All right, if you promise to behave yourself, Colonel Ruppert will give you a new contract.”20

The next time Huggins met Ruth was inside the Yankees team office and with the two owners present. “Huggins’ word is the law,” one of the owners said. Ruth took a puff from his cigar before responding. “Look at you. Too fat and old to have fun,” he told one of the owners. “And as for this shrimp,” Ruth said while pointing his thumb at Huggins, “he’s half dead right now.”21 Ruth then got up from his chair and left the room while the two owners smiled. They could almost predict the future. They knew they had a great ballplayer with a lot of baggage.

Ruth’s first spring training with the Yankees was a party. Jacksonville, Florida, the Yankees’ spring-training site, was a festive town, and when Huggins made the mistake of not setting a curfew, Ruth ran wild. “I don’t room with Ruth, I room with a suitcase,” said Yankees outfielder Ping Bodie when asked his roommate.22 That changed, however, when Ruth ran into a palm tree while chasing a fly ball, knocking himself out on the play. Huggins responded by issuing a curfew and ordering every player to make an appearance in the hotel dining room every morning before 9 o’clock.

Ruth’s safety became a huge concern after the season started. When the team traveled to Washington in early July, Ruth, given extra privileges by the Yankees, was granted permission to drive his four-door sedan rather than take the train with the rest of the team. While driving back to New York after the series, and with his wife and two other passengers in the car, Ruth failed to react in time to a sharp turn in the road. The car spun out of control, tipped over and threw the four from the vehicle. Uninjured, they traveled a half-mile to the nearest farmhouse where they were welcomed to spend the night. The next morning, with the car a wreck, the foursome made their way to nearby Philadelphia. When they came to a newsstand, they noticed the newspaper headlines: “Ruth reported killed in car crash.”23 No wonder why Huggins often wore out the hotel-room rugs by pacing late at night, wondering when Ruth would return after another one of his late-night adventures.

In 1921 the Yankees won their first-ever pennant. After the World Series, another serious problem arose when Ruth decided to make an unauthorized barnstorming trip. Back then, World Series participants were prohibited from going on barnstorming trips for fear it would cheapen the World Series, and it was a rule that Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis intended to enforce. He called Ruth several times to warn him. Ruth didn’t return the message. Ruth finally called Landis to tell him he was going through with the trip. “Oh, you are, are you? That’s fine,” Landis said angrily into the phone. He then warned, “If you do, it will be the sorriest thing you’ve ever done in baseball.” Landis slammed down the receiver and paced his hotel room while cussing up a storm. “Who does that big monkey think he is?” he said, then paced and cussed some more. “It seems I have to show someone who is running this game.”24

Sportswriter Fred Lieb was with Landis at the time and heard everything. He decided to warn one of the Yankees owners. Lieb left Landis in his hotel room and taxied to Huston’s residence. Huston, who had been drinking with Harry Frazee that evening, was awakened by a knock on his door. When Lieb told him about the conversation, the Yankees co-owner began to worry. If Ruth disobeyed the commissioner, there would be a heavy price to pay. Huston immediately got in touch with Ruth, hoping he could persuade him to change his mind. “Aw, go tell that old guy to jump in the lake,” Ruth told Huston.25 There was no stopping Ruth now.

The Yankees owners thought they could send someone to talk to the commissioner at his office in Chicago and persuade him to impose a milder punishment. Ed Barrow, Ruth’s manager in Boston and now the Yankees’ business manager, drew the assignment. He received a cool reception in the Windy City. “Well, what do you want?” Landis snapped when Barrow entered his office. “I guess you know what,” Barrow said. “Yes, I do,” said Landis. The commissioner rose from his chair and escorted Barrow to the office window. They looked down at the street below and saw two kids. “I suppose they are asking each other, ‘that big white-haired so-and-so in that office up there is the one keeping Babe Ruth out of the game,’” Landis said. “But tell me, what would you do?” “I’d suspend him, too,” Barrow replied.26 The commissioner suspended Ruth for the first six weeks of the 1922 season and took away his World Series share of $3,362.

Before the 1922 season, Ruth signed a new contract. His two-year contract had expired, and the Yankees made an offer. Ruth declined it. The Yankees upped the amount to $50,000 per season. Ruth again said no. He asked for $52,000 because he wanted to get paid $1,000 a week. The two parties agreed to Ruth’s terms and to a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year. He was also rewarded the captaincy of the Yankees, a huge honor in those days.

Ruth served his suspension and played his first game on May 20, at the Polo Grounds. Five days later, after being called out on a close play at second base, he sprang to his feet with a handful of dirt and heaved it in the umpire’s face. As expected, the ump ejected Ruth. On his way back to the dugout, Ruth was razzed with hoots and catcalls from the hometown crowd. “Play ball, you bum!” a fan yelled.27 Ruth raced toward the fan and jumped into the stands. The fan climbed over rows of seats before reaching the top aisle. “Hit that big stiff!” another fan shouted.28 Ruth retreated and climbed onto the dugout roof. His face red with fury, he issued a challenge for anyone who wanted to fight. That evening, American League President Ban Johnson fined and suspended Ruth for his outburst. He also instructed the Yankees to strip Ruth of his captaincy. In June, Ruth had another altercation with an umpire and was banished from that game. A report went out that night to Ban Johnson, who suspended Ruth for the third time that season. When Ruth heard about the suspension the next day, he confronted the umpire about his report and gave him an earful. Johnson simply added a few more games to the suspension. Later that season, Ruth served another suspension for using some choice words when arguing with an umpire.

Besides his troubles during the season, Ruth struggled at the plate in the Yankees’ second straight World Series loss to the Giants. In 1923 he was hungry to have a better year and regain the love of fans who were disappointed over his lost campaign. He enjoyed one of the best seasons (.393, 41 homers), regained the admiration of the fans, and the Yankees won their first World Series. Ruth was happy, Huggins was happy, and Ruppert was happy. This was also the year the majestic Yankee Stadium opened its doors, and due to personal differences, Ruppert bought out Huston to become the sole owner of the New York Yankees.

In 1924 Ruth was having the best season of his career. On August 8 he was hitting .408 with a league-leading 113 runs and 38 homers. And then came a sudden decline. Ruth had gained a lot of weight during the season. He sustained a left shoulder injury that forced him to make an underhand throw to an infielder after fielding every batted ball that came his way. His batting average fell 30 points, he hit just eight more homers during the last seven weeks of the season, and the Yankees fell short of winning a fourth straight pennant.

When Ruth reported for spring training in 1925, he had grown even heavier. In addition, his life had fallen into disarray. His marriage was falling apart and a bookie had exposed him for gambling debts he accumulated through horse racing. “Say it isn’t true, Babe,” a teammate asked. “Yes, I owe that money,” Ruth admitted. “I made those bets last May. I lost seventy-five hundred dollars.”29 It was a difficult spring for Ruth. He and the manager, a man Ruth never liked, continued to squabble. As the team barnstormed through the South to prepare for the season, Ruth became very ill. He continued to travel with the team and play every day until he became so ill that he passed out in the train depot in Asheville. He was rushed to New York City and hospitalized. An examination revealed he had an abdominal abscess and surgery would be required. “That comes as a shock,” Huggins said when hearing the news. “We all felt that the big boy would be able to help us in a week. Damn! That’s tough luck.”30

Without Ruth the Yankees got off to a bad start. And with the team losing, Ruppert felt the effect at the gate. Even after Ruth returned on June 1, and “was in no condition to play,” opined a writer, the Yankees continued to lose.31

Huggins was losing patience with Ruth, who continued to extend his evenings past curfew. One time, while the Yankees were in Chicago, the club hired a detective to trail him. When the report came back, they learned that Ruth had visited six different females at their residences. During one game, Ruth disobeyed his manager twice in a loss to the White Sox. That was the last straw for Huggins. He called Ed Barrow and told the Yankees business manager he wanted to take disciplinary action. “Will you get Ruppert’s backing on this?” he asked. “Ruppert’s backing is not necessary,” replied Barrow, “If that is what you want to do, you have my backing.”32 The next day in St. Louis, Huggins informed Ruth that he was fining him $5,000 and suspending him indefinitely. Ruth responded by cussing and telling the manager he would never play another game for him and would go back to New York and tell Ruppert so. “You don’t think he will stand for this, do you?” Ruth asked. “Do as you please,” said Huggins.33

Ruth traveled to New York (with a friend, Father Joseph Quinn) and, when Ruth arrived, he had a change of heart. He admitted he had overacted and wanted to make his peace with the manager. He went to the Yankees office and spoke with Ruppert. He then headed to Yankee Stadium and spoke with Huggins, thinking he would be forgiven and allowed to play in the day’s game. But Huggins told him to sit this one out. “Anything Miller Huggins says goes with me,” Ruppert told reporters. “Huggins is running this club, not Babe Ruth. Ruth can quit if he wants to. Huggins can remain manger as long as he wants. As long as he is the manager, his decisions will be backed to the limit.”34

Ruth entered the 1926 season hungry to regain his stardom. He had a new respect for his manager, reported in tiptop shape, obeyed curfew, and worked hard. Ruth had another great season, and the Yankees returned to the top of the standings. And nobody was happier than his manager. “Babe, I admire a man who can win over a lot of tough opponents, but even more a man who can win over himself,” Huggins told him. “That’s fine, Hug, do I get the fine back?” asked Ruth. “No,” replied the manager.35

After the 1926 season, Ruth’s contract for $52,000 a year had expired. He made noises about wanting $100,000 a year for the next two seasons. “Either I get it or I don’t,” he said.36 He talked about partnering with his trainer, Artie McGovern, in opening more gymnasiums throughout the country. When Ruth arrived in New York after spending time in Los Angeles on his next movie, Babe Comes Home, he was greeted by a sign in red letters at Grand Central Station: “Babe Ruth Comes Home.”37 As he walked through the terminal, there were shouts of “Get your one-hundred thousand, Babe! Get your one-hundred thousand!”38 He waved his hat to the crowd when he appeared at the 42nd Street exit. He was also greeted by reporters who asked if he would settle for anything less than $100,000. “I’ll have to see Ruppert,” he said. “I hate to quit baseball, but I have other propositions I can earn money at.”39 At 1 o’clock, Ruth arrived at Ruppert’s brewery. The two men headed directly to the owner’s office and began to negotiate. Ruppert spoke about a multiyear contract, and the more years he mentioned, the lower Ruth went in his demand. When the two men emerged from the office at 1:55 P.M., Ruppert announced an agreement of $70,000 a year for the next three seasons. “It’s a gamble,” Ruppert admitted, “but I’m convinced that Ruth won’t make me sorry.”40 Ruth made the deal pay off by hitting a record 60 homers in 1927 and 54 in 1928. The Yankees won the World Series in both seasons. While heading home from St. Louis after sweeping the Cardinals in 1928, “We were as crazy as a bunch of wild Indians,” Ruth said later. “When you win two straight World Series without a loss it calls for something special.”41 Led by Ruth, the Yankees stormed their way through each train car. Ruth punched a hole in every straw hat he found and tore the shirts off the backs of his teammates. But where was Ruppert during all this jubilation? Ruth and a few teammates went in search of him. They hammered on the door of the owner’s drawing room. “Go away!” yelled Ruppert. “I have already turned in and want to get some sleep.”42 This was no time to sleep, Ruth insisted. The Babe and a teammate put their shoulders through the door. Someone reached inside and unlatched the lock. Ruth and his friends tumbled into the room. Noticing Ruppert was wearing an expensive nightshirt, Ruth warned he was going to rip it off. “Don’t do it, Mr. Ruth,” warned Ruppert. “This is custom-made silk.” Ruth said he only wanted a piece of it. “Mr. Ruth, you’re suspended,” Ruppert said. Riiiiip.43

The Yankees finished a distant second in 1929. Worried about his club, Huggins became seriously ill. As the season went on, he wore out to the point that he spent a few days in his hotel room rather than at the ballpark. One day he entered the clubhouse with a red blotch beneath his left eye. Yankees coach Art Fletcher and sportswriter Ford Frick begged him to see a doctor, but he refused. He finally gave in and was advised to check into a hospital. His malady was diagnosed as erysipelas, a skin disease. His facial sore was a mealy carbuncle, but in his case the sore became lethal and poisoned his body. With the manager in their thoughts and prayers, the Yankees traveled to Boston. After the first game of the series, Ruth ventured to Cambridge to appear as a guest speaker at the Catholic Club. He asked the audience to pray for Huggins and ask their friends to do the same. “If prayers can help, that old boy will pull through,” Ruth said.44 The next day at Fenway Park, the Yankees were informed that the manager had succumbed to his illness.

Ruth’s three-year contract had expired, and once again he mentioned the amount of $100,000. There was something else on Ruth’s mind: Who would manage the Yankees? As he pondered the candidates, a thought had entered his mind: “What’s the matter with me?”45 He informed Ruppert that he wanted the job. “You can’t manage yourself,” Ruppert replied, “so how are you going to manage the Yankees?”46 Ruth listed his credentials and was happy to note that Ruppert seemed impressed. The owner told Ruth that he would think it over for the next few days. When he didn’t hear anything, Ruth picked up the phone to call Ruppert. Then he noticed the newspaper headlines. Former Yankees pitcher Bob Shawkey had been hired for the job. Ruth was disappointed but kept his good spirit. He phoned Shawkey, congratulated him, and promised to give him his best effort.

Ruth’s focus went back to his contract. He was willing to compromise at $85,000 a year. “I’m good for $25,000 per year [in endorsements] even if I quit baseball today,” he said.47 “People are rioting in New York for bread,” one of Ruth’s friends told him. “They’re broke, There’s a Depression. You’re holding out for $85,000 while they’re starving. It makes a bad impression for baseball.” Ruth was perplexed. “Why don’t people tell me these things?” he said.48 He signed for $80,000 a year for 1930 and ’31.

The 1930 Yankees finished third, and Shawkey was fired after the season. Once again Ruth inquired about the managerial job. Ruppert responded by going over Ruth’s mistakes prior to 1926. “Was there any fault in my conduct in 1930 or my efforts to make Shawkey’s year a success?” Ruth asked. “You really earned the big money I paid you,” said Ruppert.49 But Ruppert made no promises to Ruth. The owner found his man in former Cubs manager Joe McCarthy and wasted little time in hiring him. “Did they have to go to the National League for a manager?” a disappointed Ruth kept asking.50

In 1932 Ruth signed a one-year deal for $75,000. He resented the Yankees new manager, and the manager knew it. McCarthy left Ruth alone, though, and The Babe enjoyed another productive season. The Yankees won another pennant and swept the Cubs in the World Series. In 1933 Ruth’s contract was reduced to $52,000. He said, “This was not a salary cut; it was an amputation.”51 Ruth, now slowing down as a player, began to talk more about managing. Supposedly, the Red Sox and White Sox were interested, and possibly the Tigers. But it never happened.

In 1934 the aging Sultan of Swat, now 39, was retiring from games before the ninth inning. The Yankees finished second for the second consecutive season. Still hoping for the managing job, Ruth asked Ruppert if he was happy with McCarthy. “Why yes; aren’t you?” replied Ruppert. Ruth said he was not. He insisted the Bronx Bombers could have done better in 1934, which Ruppert didn’t like hearing. Ruppert offered Ruth the job of managing the minor-league Newark Bears. That did not please Ruth, who said he deserved to manage in the majors.52

A divorce was inevitable. When Ruth’s 1935 contract arrived from the Yankees, it was for $1. About that time, Ruth heard from Boston Braves owner Emil Fuchs, who wanted Babe back in Boston. Fuchs offered a job of vice president and assistant manager, in addition to playing duties. Before accepting, Ruth made one last bid to manage the Yankees. He asked Ruppert again if he was happy with McCarthy. The Yankees owner said he was. Ruppert then handed Ruth a paper noting his unconditional release. He had been waived on by the other American League clubs and was free to sign elsewhere. Ruth later said that last experience in dealing with the Yankees owner made him a little sick. It also bothered others around the circuit. “Somebody should have had more compassion when they maneuvered him out of the American League,” said Hank Greenberg.53

Ruth’s 1935 season was unpleasant. He probably should have retired the previous fall, with 708 career home runs. The year got off to a bad start when he learned that Fuchs never told Braves manager Bill McKechnie about Ruth’s position as assistant manager. Ruth had hoped that being a manager’s assistant would lead to getting a managing job. The Braves, though, had no intention on hiring Ruth to manage. They only wanted his name to help sell tickets. His vice-president duties were confined to attending store openings. His assistant-managing position was limited to letting McKechnie know if he could play that day. On June 2 Ruth called it a career. He officially retired as a player and still had hopes of managing, but the opportunity never came. “Despite his faults, baseball didn’t do right by him,” said Greenberg.54

GARY A. SARNOFF has been an active SABR member since 1994. A member of the Bob Davids Chapter, he has contributed to SABR’s BioProject and Games Project, to the annual National Pastime publication, is a member of the SABR Negro Leagues committee, and is the chairman of the Ron Gabriel Committee. In addition, he has authored two baseball books: The Wrecking Crew of ’33 and The First Yankees Dynasty. He currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.