The Young Babe Ruth To Join The White Sox..........Almost

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Two telegrams from Charles Comiskey to Earl Mills. Mills was representing Comiskey who was trying to close the deal with Jack Dunn for a sale of some of Dunn's players.

Comiskey showed interest then backed off, too much money. Last effort by Dunn, willing to sell Babe to Chicago for $16,000.00
These telegrams were dug up by Ethel Mills, wife of Earl Mills, White Sox scout.

Notice the Western Union Telegram ID number.............714.

[ol' aches and pains]

Damn Comiskey, that cheap &^%#*(%&*~!!

[Dude Paskert]

Well, it would have stunk to have Babe banned as a Black Sox...

[ian2813]

Well, it would have stunk to have Babe banned as a Black Sox...

Now that would've been an interesting turn for history to take!

[pheasant]

Babe was too talented and would have made too much money to take the bait. But that's an interesting thought.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Babe was too talented and would have made too much money to take the bait. But that's an interesting thought.

I don't think anyone knew how talented he really was until he became a fulltime position player. I think he would have been paid a fair amount but in 1919 I doubt he would have been the highest paid player even on the Whitesox.

[Dude Paskert]

Babe was too talented and would have made too much money to take the bait. But that's an interesting thought.

Comiskey didn't pay anybody a penny more than absolutely necessary...Joe Jackson got involved, right? He had some talent...

[EdTarbusz]

Comiskey didn't pay anybody a penny more than absolutely necessary...Joe Jackson got involved, right? He had some talent...

Comiskey's 1919 and 1920 teams had two of baseball's highest payrolls.

[pheasant]

That White Sox team was much better offensively than the Red Sox from 1915-1917. Chicago was a crummy team in 1914. Ruth could have gotten a bunch of starts that year. By 1915, he would have been ready to win 25+ games a year with that awesome offensive team that he would have had behind him. Put Ruth on the White Sox 1914, and they would have gone to the Series 3 years in a row(1915-1917). Ruth pitching to Ray Schalk would have been something with that great lineup the White Sox had. With that being said, I don't see Ruth switching over to the outfield with that good lineup. I see Ruth butting heads with Mr. Comiskey by 1918 and getting traded to some other team. Ruth would not have tolerated his low pay for too long. And he would have been the star of the White Sox by 1917. And Ruth knew his value to his club. He was quite the negotiator and much smarter that way than people gave him credit for.

[Ripken]

Actually those telegrams were part of a huge scrapbook saved by the scout's wife and included numerous letters and telegrams from Comiskey as well as an invitation to the opening of Comiskey Park in 1910. There were 3 telegrams from Commy to the scout referencing his Baltimore trip/negotiations. Here's the full story.