RECORD SALARY IN SPORT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 11

RECORD SALARY IN SPORT.

BABE RUTH'S CONTRACT. ACCEPTS 75,000 DOLLARS A YEAR. (united niESS association—by electric TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT (Received March 17tli, 8.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 1(5. Tho depression has cost Babe Ruth, tho famous baseball player, 5000 dollars. He accepted a one-year contract to-day for 75,000 dollars. He remains probably the highest paid professional in sport.

It has been estimated by American writers that the .high salaries which hitherto have been paid are due for a trimming this year, lieports of clubs have indicated that sixteen major league teams expect to save 1,000,000 dollars on players' salaries. Among those who have been named as suffering financial cuts are Babe Ruth (who was being paid 80,000 dollars a year), Bill Terry (from 24,000 to 15,000 dollars). Hack Wilson, Dazzy Vance, Babe Herman, Glenn Wright, Johnny Frederick, and Melvin Ott. When Babe Ruth was informed that his salary would liavo to be reduced ho said to a newspaper interviewer: "What does a guy have to do in this league to satisfy people? I hit 46 home runs and led the league. ... I have a swell season and I am asked to take a 10.000dollar cut. I think I'm worth 80,000 dollars to the Yankees." Against that opinion critics have voted that Ruth has become a veteran and that his "star act"' has become a trifle stale. Meanwhile Babe is to receive 75,000 dollars for his baseball services this year. The President of the United States is paid exactly the same salary.