DBWI: Babe Ruth a New York Yankee?

Today marks the 54th anniversary of the death of Boston Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.

Starting his playing career in 1914 as a pitcher, Ruth became an everyday player in 1918. He led the Red Sox to 9 World Series titles and hit 732 career home runs. He also led the American League in batting average 3 times and home runs 11 times.

In 1935, Ruth became a player-manager for the Red Sox. He retired as a player after that season to devote full time to managing. As a manager, Ruth led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1943 (his final season as manager). Ruth retired in 1943 due for health reasons and died of cancer on August 24, 1948.

I recently read in Ruth's biographer written by Bob Costas that Ruth was this close to being traded to the New York Yankees prior to the 1920 season which I personally believe is ASB.

But what if Ruth wore Yankee pinstripes? Would the Yankees have won World Series championships instead of spending most of the 1920s in last place? Would a much more successful Yankees have prevented them from moving to Baltimore after the 1930 season (and changing their name to the Orioles)? [1]

In OTL, the St. Louis Browns moved to New York after the 1945 season to end a 15 year absence of American League baseball in New York. Browns Stadium [2] is known as the "House That Mantle Built." The Browns won 4 World Series titles during Mickey Mantle's playing career. [3]

Had the Yankees stayed in New York, would the Browns have moved to Baltimore?

Notes:
[1] The Orioles did win any World Series until the team signed Brooks Robinson and Al Kaline. The Orioles won the World Series in 1960, 1961, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1997 and 2004

[2] Formerly Yankee Stadium

[3] The Browns won World Series titles 3 times in the post-Mantle era: 1974, 1982 and 2001
 
Was Babe Ruth good? Yes! But I don't think he would be good enough to carry the Yankees to a World Series win just by his presence. The reason that team was so consistently bad in the 20's was a lack of everything: No good pitching, hitting, or even defense really.
 
Top