This week in Babe Ruth News: Colonel Jacob Ruppert, former owner of the New York Yankees, was elected to join the Hall of Fame this week as part of the Pre-Integration Era ballot. He was joined by 19th-century catcher Deacon White and Hank O’Day, an umpire during the turn of the 20th century. As most Babe Ruth fans are aware, Ruppert was the gentleman responsible for bringing Babe Ruth to the Yankees, hence the start of a baseball dynasty. Originally the Baltimore Orioles, the franchise was established as one of the first 8 American League Teams in 1901. In 1903, the team was moved to New York and renamed “The Highlanders” and then renamed the Yankees in 1913. An army colonel and brewery owner, Ruppert purchased the Yankees in 1915. Up to that point, the Yankees had never won a pennant. It wasn’t until January 1920, that Ruppert’s luck began to change with the purchase of George Herman “Babe” Ruth, a young pitcher-turned-hitter for $100,000 and a $300,000 loan from Red Sox owner, Harry Frazee. This led to the “Curse of the Bambino” for the Red Sox and the beginning of the most successful sports franchise in American sports for New York. From 1920 to 1964, the Yankees won 20 World Series titles and 29 AL pennants, of which, 7 World Series titles and 10 AL pennants were under Ruppert’s ownership. Ruppert passed away in 1939, prior to the baseball season and the Yankees’ fourth straight championship win.
Babe Ruth Signing Contract with Colonel Ruppert
