2011 National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers is not the first star in baseball history to be suspended for league rules violations. New York Yankees great Babe Ruth was suspended for the first six weeks of the 1922 season after disobeying a major league rule against off season barnstorming.
Though not as serious as Braun’s 50 game suspension for alleged steroid use, Ruth’s was every bit as newsworthy in 1921. ‘The Bambino’ was coming off of his best season as a pro to that point. He had batted .378 with 171 runs batted in (RBI) and made baseball history by slugging 59 home runs. Ruth led the American League in home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage and total bases while leading the Yankees to their first pennant. The Yankees lost in the World Series to their cross town rivals the Giants 5 games to 3.
After the season Ruth decided to barnstorm along with teammate and outfielder Bob Meusel. In doing so, Ruth and Meusel broke a major league rule against barnstorming by players who participated in the World Series. The first Commissioner in baseball history, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, believed that the Series should be the most important event of the baseball season. With baseball’s reputation having suffered from the Black Sox scandal of 1919 Landis did not want anything to take away from the fans faith in the game.
According to ‘The Image of Their Greatness’ by Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig, when Ruth heard that Landis meant to enforce the rule he reportedly said, ‘Tell the old guy to go jump in the lake.’
Landis did not respond. He simply waited until late in 1921 before announcing his decision. The Commissioner fined Babe Ruth, considered the greatest player in baseball history, and his teammate Meusel their full World Series shares of $3,500 and suspended them for the first six weeks of the 1922 season. Landis’ handling of Ruth is considered by some to have strengthened his role as Commissioner more than any other act.
Despite protests from the fans, Ruth was not reinstated and began the 1922 season in street clothes. Even when he came back his suspension did not lead to reform. Ruth was suspended twice more in 1922 for arguing and throwing dirt on an umpire then cursing at another.
Ruth’s antics would not stop the greatest dynasty in baseball history from winning its second consecutive pennant. And in the 110 games that he played he hit .315 with 35 home runs and 99 RBI.
1922 was a tumultuous year for Ruth and the Yankees. Some say it was the Babe’s worst season. And it all began in 1921, 90 years before Ryan Braun’s suspension, with Ruth breaking a major league rule. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis made sure that he paid a price.
He also made sure that everyone in baseball knew that not even the greatest player in baseball history was exempt from breaking the rules.