July 7, 1914

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Joel Byers

On July 7, 1914, the owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Jack Dunn, offered to sell 19 year-old, and future Hall of Famer, Babe Ruth as well as pitcher Ernie Shore and catcher Ben Egan to Connie Mack, the owner of the Philadelphia A’s for $10,000, which would be around $260,000 in 2020. Connie Mack refused, pleading poverty. He lied. He had way more than enough money to swing that deal. The Boston Red Sox took Jack Dunn up on that offer and won three World Series in the next four years behind the arms of Ruth and Shore. Babe Ruth was one of the three best pitchers in baseball from 1915 to 1918 and became the greatest hitter of all-time. He was traded to the New York Yankees at the end of 1919 and during the next 15 years, led the Yankees to seven American League Pennants and four World Series wins. So, because Connie Mack was a cheap bastard, he lost out on having Babe Ruth play for his team for 21 years and seven World Series titles. Did Connie Mack know what he lost out on for being extremely cheap? Yes he did, and he hated for anyone to mention how Babe Ruth could have been a Philadelphia A, instead of a New York Yankee.

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About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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