Babe Ruth In Missoula – 1924

Swat King Will Be in Missoula Today.

Babe Ruth, the homerun king, Robert Meusel and Christie Walsh, members of the New York Yankees ball team, are due to be in Missoula today. According to advices received at the Northern Pacific headquarters yesterday the trio will pass through the city on the North Coast Limited at 10:14 today on their way to the coast.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on October 16, 1924.

“Babe” Ruth Scores Hit In Garden City

Bats Ball for Youngsters, Autographs Tickets.

“Babe” Ruth, famous homerun hitter of the New York Yankees, made a decided hit with Missoula fans yesterday during his brief and busy stop in the Garden city. He arrived at 10:15 o’clock.

After two fruitless swings he batted a ball far down the tracks to a score of anxious youngsters. Then at the suggestion of H. L. Bickenbaugh he autographed two dozen tickets to the Saturday football entertainment at the Liberty for the “Good Eats” club. He also autographed a baseball for Frank Jones, which previously bore the signature of Woodrow Wilson, once president of the United States.

The “Babe” was decidedly affable, his smile working at its best and his hand ever willing to shake that of any admirer who wished to extend the courtesy. He greeted Hugh Campbell and talked over old baseball times and Joe Bush, ex-Highlander, whom Campbell as president of the Missoula club sold to the majors.

Though the season is nearly three weeks over, Ruth appeared in good trim. Those who have had him overly-fat have maligned the big fellow. He is huge in build, but not flabby. A massive head mounted on a rotund body, a mass of heavy black hair topping it all. Bob Meusel kept out of the picture as much as possible. He is a tall fellow with raven-black hair and an easy grin.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on October 17, 1924.

Likely the most famous athlete to ever sign autographs in Missoula, the fabulous Ruth was traveling on a circuit of exhibition games throughout the Northwest. Over the following three days he played games in Spokane, Tacoma and Seattle. It was reported that 9,000 people attended the Seattle game. His companion, Bob Meusel, was also a premier player for the Yankees. Walsh was Ruth’s agent. The signed Ruth baseball would likely be worth several hundred thousand dollars today.

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