Babe Ruth Newspaper Article
Jan 5, 1920:
New York Yankees announce purchase of Babe Ruth
On January 5th, 1920, the New York Yankees announces that would purchase all-star outfielder George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for a total of $125,000. Babe Ruth had played six seasons with the Red Sox, leading them to three World Series victories. He had also pitched a total of 29 2/3 scoreless World Series innings, setting a new league record that wouldn’t be broken for 43 years. He had a sensational 1919 season, breaking the league’s home run record with 29 and also led the American League with 114 runs-batted-in and 103 runs. With his prodigious hitting, pitching and fielding skills, Ruth had surpassed the great Ty Cobb as baseball’s biggest attraction.
Despite Ruth’s performance, the Red Sox stumbled upon a 66-71 record in 1919, finishing in sixth place in the American League. The new owner of the Red Sox, Harry Frazee made the decision to sell Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 in cash. The Yankees took over Ruth’s contract, which called for a salary of $10,000 per year. Aware of his value, Ruth had demanded a salary raise, and New York agreed to negotiate a new contract with terms that would satisfy their newest member.
The deal paid off as Ruth went on to smash his own home run record in 1920, hitting 54 home runs. He connected for 59 homers in 1921, dominating the game and increasing Yankee revenues to the point that the team was able to leave the Polo Grounds (shared with the New York Giants baseball team) and build Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923 and became known as "the house that Ruth built." Throughout the rest of the 20th century, the legacy of Frazee’s lopsided trade continued to hover over major league baseball, as the Yankees won 39 AL pennants and 26 World Series titles and the Red Sox went 86 years without a World Series win.
New York Yankees announce purchase of Babe Ruth
On January 5th, 1920, the New York Yankees announces that would purchase all-star outfielder George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for a total of $125,000. Babe Ruth had played six seasons with the Red Sox, leading them to three World Series victories. He had also pitched a total of 29 2/3 scoreless World Series innings, setting a new league record that wouldn’t be broken for 43 years. He had a sensational 1919 season, breaking the league’s home run record with 29 and also led the American League with 114 runs-batted-in and 103 runs. With his prodigious hitting, pitching and fielding skills, Ruth had surpassed the great Ty Cobb as baseball’s biggest attraction.
Despite Ruth’s performance, the Red Sox stumbled upon a 66-71 record in 1919, finishing in sixth place in the American League. The new owner of the Red Sox, Harry Frazee made the decision to sell Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 in cash. The Yankees took over Ruth’s contract, which called for a salary of $10,000 per year. Aware of his value, Ruth had demanded a salary raise, and New York agreed to negotiate a new contract with terms that would satisfy their newest member.
The deal paid off as Ruth went on to smash his own home run record in 1920, hitting 54 home runs. He connected for 59 homers in 1921, dominating the game and increasing Yankee revenues to the point that the team was able to leave the Polo Grounds (shared with the New York Giants baseball team) and build Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923 and became known as "the house that Ruth built." Throughout the rest of the 20th century, the legacy of Frazee’s lopsided trade continued to hover over major league baseball, as the Yankees won 39 AL pennants and 26 World Series titles and the Red Sox went 86 years without a World Series win.