April 4, 2021

Babe Ruth Signs 1932 Contract for $75K

The signing took place on March 16th in the flower garden of the Rolyat Hotel in Gulfport, about two miles south of the Jungle Country Club.


Babe Ruth, wife Claire, and Colonel Jacob Ruppert (Yankees owner). 
But who is the distinguished gentleman on the left - perhaps the hotel owner, someone from the Yankee front office, Babe's agent, the mayor of Gulfport? Read on...
Photo credit: Stetson University College of Law website (colorized). 


After the ceremony, Ruth spoke about accepting a reduced salary. "Everybody has been taking a cut and I guess I'll have to fall in line. Colonel Ruppert made it plain to me that in reducing my salary he was doing so not because I was slipping, but because all business is undergoing an economic re-adjustment."

Ruth earned his salary in 1932, hitting 41 home runs and leading the Yankees to another championship in his tenth World Series appearance. This was the year of Babe's legendary "called shot" home run. In Game 3 of the World Series, Ruth made a gesture with his bat toward the center field bleachers, then slammed the next pitch over the center field fence. 

The contract sold at auction in 2019 for $295K.

In 2014, Babe Ruth's 97-year-old daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, visited St. Petersburg and was escorted through the Stetson campus. The Stetson website has a picture of her looking at the historic 1932 photo of her father.
So who is the gentleman in the left of the picture? It turns out no one brought a pen to the ceremonial signing. While a battery of camera and sound men waited to record the momentous event, hotel guest Colonel A.W. Wattenberg, a malt and hops salesman, popped out of nowhere to save the day. Naturally, he was invited to sit at the table while they borrowed his pen.

Another photo of the signing.  Credit: Babe Ruth Central (colorized)

Another shot, in glorious black and white

Later that year, the Rolyat Hotel was converted to the Florida Military Academy (1932-1951). The building is now the Stetson University College of Law.

The Ruths drove to St. Petersburg in early February that year and checked into the Jungle Hotel. Babe was photographed in front of the hotel with the syndicated caption: "Babe Ruth Golfing in St. Petersburg 2/6/1932-St. Petersburg, FL- And that's the most reliable sign that spring is near. Babe Ruth drove down to St. Petersburg, FL from New York, and on his arrival, one of first acts of course was to play a game of golf. Here's the Babe and the rest of the foursome at Jungle Country Club. (Left to Right) Bob Middleton, Golf Pro of Galen Hall, PA; Ruth, John and Warren Lassing, St Petersburg amateur golf stars.

The St. Petersburg Times posted an alternate caption that mentions a second round of golf, Colonel Ruppert and "salary difficulties."

St. Petersburg Times Feb 6, 1932

Babe Ruth's Major League Salary History (from various internet sources)

Year    Salary
1915   $3,500    Boston Red Sox
1916   $3,500
1917   $5,000
1918   $7,000
1919   $10,000  New York Yankees
1920   $20,000
1921   $20,000
1922   $52,000
1923   $52,000
1924   $52,000
1925   $52,000
1926   $52,000
1927   $70,000
1928   $70,000
1929   $70,000
1930   $80,000
1931   $80,000
1932   $75,000  Contract signed at Rolyat Hotel, Gulfport, Florida
1933   $52,000
1934   $35,000
1935   $25,000  Boston Braves