Red Ruffing and the New York Yankees: What Really Happened?

Realty and truth are in the eyes of the beholder. Sometimes a minor, unimportant point can identify a major problem.

Early in spring training, an unsigned Red Ruffing was barred from working out with the Yankees until he signed a contract for the 1936 season. The result was that Ruffing removed his belongings from the clubhouse and told manager Joe McCarthy he was gong home the next day.

McCarthy informed the writers of the Yankees position.

"The club will not give an inch in this matter. The club's offer of a contract at last year's salary was final. He is insisting on a raise. He can take the offer or leave it."

On the evening of March 26, 1936, Ruffing ended his holdout. He signed a contract with the New York Yankees for the 1936 season after missing 25 days of spring training.

The minor, unimportant point is how much money Ruffing would receive.

The Yankees insisted they had signed Ruffing for the $12,000 he had continually rejected. Ruffing claimed he signed for $13,000.

How much money Ruffing received was known only by the Yankees and Ruffing. That is not important. The fact that what is reported in the media and what actually occurred usually are different is a problem we will always face.

Ruffing initiated the talks that led to his signing. He suddenly appeared at the Yankees spring training facility at St. Petersburg and asked to speak to manager McCarthy.

The two future Hall of Famers met in the clubhouse and agreed to speak with owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert that evening.

Ruffing made his spring debut four days later against the Yankees top farm club, the Newark Bears. He was blasted by the minor leaguers, allowing four runs and five hits in five innings.

The Yankees opened the season on Apr. 14 in Washington. Lefty Gomez pitched a great game, but Bobo Newsom held the Yankees scoreless for nine innings. The Senators scored in the bottom of ninth to win, 1-0.

After splitting the next two games, the Yankees played their home opener with Ruffing on the mound. New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia threw out the first ball. Babe Ruth, in his first year of forced retirement, was present with his wife and daughter Julia on his wedding anniversary.

The day was a complete success—for Lefty Grove and the Boston Red Sox, who shut out the Yankees. It was the second time in four games the Yankees had been blanked. Grove allowed only a pair of hits and three runners. No Yankee reached second base.

Ruffing allowed eight hits and eight runs in seven innings to the Red Sox, but only one-half of the runs were earned. Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Ben Chapman and Roy Johnson committed errors that led to four of Boston's runs.

It is foolish to base much on the first few games of the season.

 In 1998, a Yankees team many consider to be the greatest team of all time started the season at 1-4 and then won 113 more regular season games. This season, the Red Sox started out by losing 10 of their first 12 games.

The 1936 Yankees quickly put things together. Ruffing finished the season with 20 wins. It was the first of four consecutive seasons that he would win at least 20 games.

The Yankees easily won the first of four consecutive pennants and World Championships.

Colonel Ruppert certainly got his $12,000—or was it $13,000?—worth.

References:

Dawson, James P. "Ruffing of Yanks Signs Contract." New York Times. 27 March 1936. p. 29.

Dawson, James P. ""Newark Conquers Yankees, 7-2 as Ruffing Falters On Mound." New York Times. 1 Apr. 1936. p. 31.

Dawson, James P. "Irate Ruffing Barred From Drill, Threatens to Leave Yanks' Camp." New York Times. 5 March 1936. p. 29.

Dawson, James P. "Red Sox Overwhelm Yankees in Stadium Opener." New York Times. 18 Apr. 1936. p. 8.