Playing the Game

By the summer of 1920, Babe Ruth had attained a degree of celebrity beyond that of any other player in baseball history. Traded by the Red Sox for the unheard-of sum of $125,000, the Bambino was on a tear, breaking his own records and drawing legions of fans into Yankee Stadium. The Atlanta Constitution fed the growing interest in New York's newest player with a twelve-part series of articles in which Ruth reminisced about his rough-and-tumble childhood as well as his life in the big leagues. He also commented on the current season, including the 1920 pennant race and World Series.

Although doubtless shaped by a ghostwriter, it is clear that these are Ruth's own thoughts, opinions, and recollections. The first contemporary account of the famed player's early years, these articles have long been available only to researchers and history buffs. Thirty historic photographs complement this original edition, along with an Introduction by sports historian Paul Dickson.