THIS NEW FEATURE dips into our archives for the earliest mention in the Chicago Tribune’s pages of people who would go on to great fame. With the World Series coming, who better to start with than Ruth? First reference: May 23, 1915: “The [White] Sox clouted the ball with reckless abandon, making a total of 15 hits, many of which were driven to the distant fences. They drove George Ruth, a Boston recruit slabman, off the mound at the start of the second inning when he came back for more after being drubbed for four runs in the opening round. Two blows in succession in the second sent the youthful southpaw to the clubhouse.” By June 18, 1916, Ruth, 21, was earning more respect. Wrote the Tribune’s James Crusinberry: “Babe Ruth, whose real name is George, and whose real name fits him much better than his nickname, was picked to pitch for Boston. Ruth is a whale of a southpaw pitcher, perhaps as good as there is in the league.” The Bambino’s fateful sale to the Yankees was four years off.
