A Babe Ruth Buffet
Bygone baseball by C. Philip Francis – August 15, 2004
George Herman “Babe” Ruth was born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland, and died on August 16, 1948 at the age of 53. Although many of his celebrated records have been broken, what he gave to and did for the game of baseball will forever be remembered. Each August Chatter from the Dugout looks back on various aspects of his life. This year we give you a “Babe Ruth Buffet.”
THAT’S WHAT HE SAID
:”Babe Ruth could hit the ball so hard, and so far, that it was impossible to believe your eyes.” – Sad Sam Jones, former teammate of Ruth.
GATE CRASHERS?
It has been said that the New York Yankees moved their spring training complex from New Orleans to Tampa/St. Petersburg in 1925 to keep Ruth away from the delights of Bourbon Street. To help lure the major league team to Florida, city officials built a ballpark next to an attractive lake.
During their first game at the new park Ruth jogged out to customary right field position, looked around, and then quickly returned to the Yankees bench where manager Miller Huggins demanded to know why. After Babe explained the situation, Huggins stalked out to check out the Yankee outfielder’s story. Sure enough, several alligators had walked up a bank to watch Babe Ruth play baseball.
Ruth was soon back in right field, but only after the city fathers had a barrier erected along the lake to keep out the nonpaying spectators.
“BABE RUTH IS HERE TO TAKE US DOWN TO DINNER.’
In 1934 the Standard Oil Company announced a new brand of gasoline called Esso. Standard Oil decided to promote their new product by hiring Babe Ruth whose name would be connected to a contest with fifty winners receiving a one-week trip to the New York Yankees’ spring training camp in St. Pete accompanied by Ruth. In order to qualify each boy had to send in 50 Esso coupons that could be found at Esso stations.
The Secretary of Interior, Harold Ickes, declared the contest to be in violation, but allowed Esso to pay for the entire trip to avoid the outcry of the disappointed boys. The entries asked for the batting orders of players on the teams that appeared in the 1931-1933 World Series. The boys also had to write as to why they should win in 50 words or less. Forms were then sent to 1523 applicants living in the 18 states that sold Esso gasoline.
The 49 winners, one lad was ill, along with five counselors boarded the Orange Blossom Special for Florida. They stayed at the Huntington Hotel, and each boy had his own private room. During the day they were given baseball instructions by Ruth on the Yankee ball field, saw movies, swam in the Gulf, and went sight-seeing. The young men even followed Ruth around 18 holes of golf. Before they left for home, each youngster received a photo and baseballs autographed by Ruth who later sent a crate of grapefruit and oranges to each youth.
None of the 49 ever made it to the big leagues. Franklin Brittingham was in the Merchant Marine during World War 11, and was living in Delaware when I first this story almost 15 years ago. He still had his yellowed entry form in his scrapbook.
James Laird, Jr., then
10, finished a letter to his mother with, “They are calling me now, Babe Ruth is
here to take us all down to dinner.” After James was killed in action during
World War II, his mother would often read that letter that said, “…Babe Ruth is
here to take us all down to dinner.” Note: Most boys were not able to be
located, but one resident of Baltimore still has his two autographed baseballs.
THE MANAGER WAS TOUGH
Throughout his career the 6’ 2”, 215 pound Babe Ruth usually paid little attention to training rules, and also to 5’ 6 1/2”, 140 pound Miller Huggins. One day the skipper told some newspapermen that he could take just so much, and was ready to crack down on Ruth. “I’ll talk to him, I’ll really let him know, all right.”
A short time later the big slugger sauntered by with a big, black cigar in his mouth. A newsman whispered to Miller, “Here comes Babe, time to talk to him.”
“You bet,” as the towering Ruth came walking by. Huggins looked up, and said, “Hiya, Babe.” The manager had sure told his ballplayer off.
THE GREATEST SPORTS HERO
Babe Ruth became the greatest sports hero during the Golden Age of Sports, and was the toast of the country. He loved children, never turned away a child who wanted his autograph, never asked for money for a signature, and often visited children’s hospitals. Legends abound regarding Ruth. Did he really point to centerfield before hitting a home run in the 1932 World Series that has since been called “The Called Shot?”
Did 11-year-old John Sylvester remarkably recover from a fatal blood poisoning in October of 1926 when Ruth promised to hit a home run for the boy? According to the story Ruth hit three home runs that day, and soon John was out of danger.
Ruth lore is what makes baseball the great game that it has always been, and what it is today.
BABE WOULD HAVE LIKED THAT
People felt close to Ruth, could relate to him, and Babe was always near his fans. There are three monuments in the Yankee Stadium’s centerfield erected to Miller Huggins, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth. The latter was dedicated on April 19, 1949. Mrs. Babe Ruth unveiled the statue, and then the first ball was thrown out before the game began. The honor did not go to a Yankee player, past or present, nor did it go to a dignitary in baseball or politics. The homage was given to a teenage boy from St. Mary’s Industrial School in Baltimore – the institution where Ruth spent much of his teenage years, and where he learned to play baseball. Babe would have liked that.