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January 03, 2008
Happy Yankee Day!
Hey, Sean McNally, this year, I beat you to it!
On January 3, 1920, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. And, on January 3, 1973, a group of investors led by George Steinbrenner and minority partner Michael Burke bought the Yankees from CBS for $10 million.
I wonder what's on the slate for January 3, 2026? It seems like something big happens for the Yankees on this date every 53 years or so...
Posted by Steve Lombardi at January 3, 2008 10:35 AM
Comments
The date's wrong.
The actual date of Ruth's sale was December 26, 1919. I've seen photostat copies of the official documents of the sale which confirm that date.
The January 3 date is often cited, but it's wrong.
Posted by: Lee Sinins ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 3, 2008 01:19 PM
Thanks Lee. I've looked into it now.
From what I'm reading it seems like the deal was signed Dec. 26, 1919. But, before it was announced, the Yanks sent Miller Huggins to Los Angeles to meet with Ruth, to be assured he'd play for the Yankees -- and behave himself.
So, perhaps the right way to say it is: On January 3, 1919, the Boston Red Sox sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees was finalized.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at January 3, 2008 01:39 PM
Deals are not made when the players say they will behave themselves.
On January 3, 1920, Babe Ruth could told Miller Huggins he would never behave himself and would never play for the Yankees and it wouldn't have changed the fact that he had already been acquired by the Yankees. The Yankees's only recourse then would have been to put him back on the market and/or suspend him.
It is indisputable that there was a delay in the announcement. The announcement wasn't made until January 5, 1920.
I can't confirm this, but I do recall seeing somewhere that the January 3 date had never appeared before Steinbrenner bought the team. Then, he revised history to make Ruth's sale the same day as the sale of the team to him.
Posted by: Lee Sinins at January 3, 2008 03:50 PM
~~I can't confirm this, but I do recall seeing somewhere that the January 3 date had never appeared before Steinbrenner bought the team. Then, he revised history to make Ruth's sale the same day as the sale of the team to him. ~~
Wow. That's interesting - and possible!
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at January 3, 2008 04:03 PM
Yeah, yeah Steve... someone had to do some work today. ;-)
Here's the official RLYW Yankee Day posting... with new facts about today!
http://www.replacementlevel.com/index.php/RLYW/direct/happy_yankee_day
Posted by: SMinDC at January 3, 2008 04:57 PM
~~Yeah, yeah Steve... someone had to do some work today. ;-)~~
LOL. Don't worry, tomorrow, that will be me.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at January 3, 2008 07:56 PM