So what if instead of selling Babe Ruth's contract in 1920 to the New York Yankees, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the club entirely. Not a lot is known about the situation just that Frazee seemed to need cash in a hurry. Securing the rights to a play "No, No, Nanette" that would not appear on Broadway until 1925 only seems to be part of the story. In part the original deal for Ruth's contract was to help finance his purchase of the Fenway Park that same year. So that's our divergence. Harry Frazee fails to buy Fenway Park and is strapped for cash especially as the lease on the park is $30,000 a year, the hometown rival Boston Braves aren't interested in sharing their new Braves Park stadium, the theater magnate decides it's time to get out of baseball and return to Broadway. Who's the most likely buyer? Is there anyone in town willing to purchase the team? Is it possible the Red Sox relocate?
Is there any possible chance one of the owners or ownership groups of the disbanded Federal League try and purchase the Red Sox in a bid to bring baseball back to their city? I know Ned Hanlon the former owner of the FL Baltimore Terrapins was especially keen to get back into baseball and bring a team back to Baltimore. Though not sure about other cities and potential buyers. Judging by population the top 3 choices for relocation would have been Baltimore, Buffalo, and Milwaukee they're all cities larger than 500,000 people and without a Major League teams but baseball legacies. Longer Shots would be Newark, New Orleans, Minneapolis, or Kansas City. Those 4 are under 500,000 people though do have baseball histories of some sort. Any chance an established baseball city gets a second team? Who was close to Frazee and might have influenced his decision? Would love to hear from more informed baseball minds in the group.
Does the American League try and start another Boston Franchise?