by Michael D. Wynne
The most famous player in baseball history was at one time a visitor to Alexandria. Here is the story of his visit:
In the December 7, 1920 edition of the Town Talk, it said:
New York Team May Train Here
Representative in Alexandria; ‘Babe Ruth’ May Come
In essence, the Yankees were considering coming to Alexandria to “city park,” the future Bringhurst Field, for their spring training site. A committee of five men, including city parks commissioner Bringhurst, was formed to accomplish getting this to happen.
In the December 17, 1920 edition, the Boston Braves were now considering Alexandria as their training site. The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce was handling the negotiations and requested that the Braves play four games in Louisiana, two in Alexandria and two in Shreveport. One of the games negotiated with the Boston team was going to be with the Yankees and that had to include the presence of Babe Ruth.
In the February 5, 1921 edition, it was announced on the front page:
BABE RUTH WILL PLAY HERE
New York Yanks Home-Run King Will Appear March 24
“The baseball committee of the Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it has scheduled a game for Thursday, March 24, between the New York Yankees of the American League and the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League.
This committee has been working hard for several weeks trying to get a big game scheduled for Alexandria and it has succeeded in arranging the game between two well-known clubs.
Everybody knows that with the New York Yankees comes the famous “Babe Ruth,” the fellow that knocks ’em cold over the fence, having secured 54 round trips during the season just closed. He will be expected to knock several down as far as Bolton Avenue while here.
The Brooklyn team was the pennant winner in the National League and was the contender for the World’s championship last fall. these two teams represent the best in baseball, so that Alexandria and nearby towns have a treat in store. Full details will be given later.
This is an opportunity for everyone to see some real baseball.”
In the February 23, 1921 edition, it announced that the New York Yankees would be playing against the Brooklyn Dodgers with “Home Run King” Ruth playing. “March 24 will be a big day in Alexandria,” says Babe Ruth. He “would be on hand that day to trying his bat fest stunt by putting the ball over the center field fence of Alexandria Park (now Bringhurst Field).” The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce signed the contact with both teams “several days ago” to play against each other in Alexandria. The newspaper noted:
“… The two clubs sent the Chamber of Commerce committee some large advertising posters that will be distributed around the country. And the event will be heralded far and wide through the columns of the newspapers in this territory. Bob Bringhurst, commissioner of streets and parks, is working like a beaver to put the grounds in first-class shape so that when these two big teams come, they will find the finest diamond in the South. Tickets will be on sale downtown at several drug stores and other convenient points so that there will not be a rush at the gate on the day of the game. The committee has even insured the day against rain so that there is no doubt that the game will be pulled off in great shape ….”
The committee set the prices to be reasonable so everyone could attend, setting the bleachers at $1 a head with the grandstand at $1.50 a seat.
Several more articles touting the event came out. One noted that the “flashy posters” showing Ruth hitting a ball had arrived in town and would be put out. Another article (March 3) noted that Frank King, the home run king from the Philadelphia Athletics would also be playing for the Yankees. It was expected to be the largest crowd ever to play in the Alexandria Park. It definitely was.
In the March 11th edition, it was announced that all banks in town would close at 1 P.M. in order to give their employees a chance to go to the game. Also in the March 11th edition was a photograph of Ruth and a listing of all of the stores selling tickets, most of them drug stores, but Weiss and Goldring was also on the list. In the March 15th edition, Weiss and Goldring had a large advertisement which noted that Ruth could be “seen” in their store window and tickets were for sale at that store. In the store window (according to a March 16th news article), there was a life-size cutout of Ruth holding a bat with a sign.
In the March 21st edition, Mr. James W. Bolton asked the Bolton High School students who the greatest man alive was and they responded “Babe Ruth.” In the March 23rd edition, there was a large advertisement for Tankel and Bauer “smart wearing apparel for men and women” store located on Third Street. The ad urged everyone to wear a straw hat to the game and the store was, coincidentally, selling straw hats. The Southern Motor Car Company of Alexandria was noted in a brief article that Ruth was driving an Essex motorcar and they sold Essex cars. They also had a large advertisement showing a
photo of Ruth saying how quick (4 days, 14 hours, 53 minutes) that someone drove their Essex from New York to San Francisco!
On the front page of the March 24th edition was a gigantic article with large headlines:
Here’s Hoping That Babe Ruth Will Bust A Fence Today
Yanks and Dodgers Lock Horns at City Park This Afternoon;
Visiting Baseball Players Dine With Rotarians and Kiwanians
Nine players’ photographs, including Ruth, were shown with the article. Along with lots of promotional talk in the article, much of it about the hope of Babe Ruth knocking over a fence with a battered ball, the article said players from both teams ate at a luncheon with the Alexandria Rotarians and Kiwanians at noon and then proceeded to the park to warm up. The game was expected to be the largest attended game in the history of central Louisiana. There was also expected to be 60 reporters and sports writers present.
Also in this same edition was a large advertisement by the Alexandria Bank and Trust Company welcoming Ruth to town and reminding citizens that there was “4 ½ % on Time Certificates of Deposit.”
In the March 25th edition, front page, the headline was:
YANK SLUGGERS DEFEAT DODGER TEAM 12-3
Ruth Finds Two Brooklyn Hurlers Easy; Hits For Three Bags
5000 Fans Witness Big League Battle
The article spoke about Ruth’s game in great detail noting that he hit almost to the center field fence. Every time Ruth went to bat, there were “maddening cheers” from the crowd.
An extensive article covered the activities of the spectators and the city. There were hundreds of school children and many out-of-town visitors at the game. The article continued with what took place in each and every inning by each team during the game.
The chief of police noted that there was an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 cars lined up almost to downtown of people going to the game. Also, the city’s street cars were effectively used to bring people to and from the game. It was also noted that for the first time in Alexandria’s known history, no one was arrested during the entire day of the game. Also noted:
“Many snapshots were taken of Babe Ruth prior to and during the game. Just after he smashed out his three base hit, a handsome lassie rushed up in front of him with a Kodak (camera) and requested him to allow her to ‘snap’ him. The “home run king” stopped, assumed a serious attitude, and after his likeness had been secured, he raised his cap courteously and proceeded on his way as if nothing had happened.
Ruth and the Yankees proceeded to New Orleans. Sadly, there were no published photographs of Ruth in the Town Talk of his visit to Alexandria.
PHOTO *US work that is in the public domain in the US for an unspecified reason, but presumably because it was published in the US before 1930.
