When the Babe Went Back to Boston

SABR member Bob LeMoine is a high school librarian in Raymond, New Hampshire, and an adjunct professor for White Mountains Community College and Emporia State University.

• Table of ContentsPreface: Why Another Babe Ruth Book?Introduction1. Babe Ruth: Hail & Farewell at Fenway (August 12, 1934)2. Judge Fuchs: All Good Wishes at Braves Field (1923–1934)3. Fuchs Barking Up the Wrong Tree (November–December 1934)4. A Homeless Team and Wandering Souls (January–February 1935)5. Boston Invites the Babe to Dinner (February 1935)6. The Babe Goes to Spring Training (March 1935)7. The Bambino Is Back in Boston (April 1935)8. Babe Ruth’s Last Hurrah (May 1935)9. We All Strike Out Sometime (June 1935)10. The Judge’s Swan Song (July 1935)11. Doesn’t Anybody Want to Buy This Team? (August–September 1935)12. A Forfeited Franchise (October–December 1935)13. Long Live the Boston Braves14. Living for the Kids15. The Trail’s End of GloryChapter NotesBibliographyIndex

“By virtue of his extensive research, Bob LeMoine shows that Babe Ruth’s return to Boston with the Braves in 1935, as with the Bambino’s 1919 departure from the Red Sox, arguably ‘cursed’ both of the Hub’s major league franchises. As well documented by the author, the past-his- prime ailing slugger was lured back by the machinations of Tribe owner Fuchs to bolster gate receipts in a desperate attempt to save his financially moribund regime. The scheme quickly failed as Ruth abruptly retired, ultimately forcing Fuchs to surrender the team to creditors while Boston’s National League fans suffered through one of the worst home team performances in big league history. LeMoine adeptly details the key on- and off-the-field events of that fateful season and of the legacies of Ruth and Fuchs.”—Bob Brady, President of the Boston Braves Historical Association