Fans were pouring into stadiums everywhere to catch a glimpse of the slugger. "They all flock to Babe Ruth," Yankee manager Miller Huggins declared. "Because the American fan likes the fellow who carries the wallop."

The power of home runs, and more home runs was pushing aside the old game of bunts, steals, and hit-and-run plays.

Yankee attendance continued to climb thanks to Babe Ruth.

In 1923, on Opening Day, April 18, the New York Yankees opened their glorious, new stadium, Yankee Stadium and sportswriter Fred Lieb quickly dubbed it "The House that Ruth built."

On Opening Day, in front of 74,200 fans, Babe Ruth provided the Yankees' margin of victory with a three-run homer in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. baseballhistorian.com - The History of Baseball Babe Ruth

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'Everyone held their breath when Babe Ruth came to bat in the first inning. Only one more thing was in demand and Babe Ruth supplied it. The big slugger is a keen student of the dramatic, in addition to being the greatest home run hitter. '

'Before the game he said that he would give a year of his life if he could hit a home run in his first game in the new stadium. The Babe was on trial, and he knew it.'

'The ball came in slowly, but it went out quite rapidly, rising on a line and then dipping suddenly from the force behind it. It struck well inside the foul line, eight or ten rows above the low railing in the front of the bleachers, and as Ruth circled the bases he received probably the greatest ovation of his career. The biggest crowd rose to its feet and let loose the loudest shout in baseball history. Ruth, jogging over the home plate, grinned broadly, lifted his cap at arm's length and waved it to the multitude.'

The Yankees went on to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Babe Ruth's three-run homer.

The Babe liked his new digs, and he showed it. For the 1923 season, Ruth led the league in home runs, runs scored, RBIs, walks, slugging pct., and on-base-pct, just like he did in 1920 and 1921 - and the New York Yankees reclaimed the World Title beating the New York Giants in the World Series. baseballhistorian.com - Newspaper Clipping

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In America the Great Depression devastated the decade of the 1930s by creating millions of jobless workers, sending wages far below their 1929 level. Babe Ruth was no exception.

Attendance hit rock bottom in 1933 - just 6.3 million in the entire major leagues.

Babe Ruth's salary rose throughout the 1920s and by the time the depression rolled in, it was bigger than the President of the United States - and was four times bigger than other stars of the game.

After 1931, in which Babe Ruth hit 46 home runs and collected 163 RBIs, Ruth's salary was cut 10%. In 1932 he slugged 41 home runs with 137 RBIs and took a pay cut of 25%. In 1933 more of the same - and a 35% cut. Babe Ruth and most players protested but to no avail. Because there was no free agency, and no huge television income and no players' union either - eventually they all signed - it was simply better than not working at all.

Babe Ruth and other major leaguers then formed barnstorming teams and played during the winter months - touring the southern states, Cuba, South America, Japan and wherever they could "make a buck."

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"It is impossible to watch him at bat without experiencing an emotion. I have seen hundreds of ballplayers at the plate, and none of them managed to convey the message of impending doom to the pitcher that Babe Ruth did with the cock of his head, the position of his legs and the little gentle waving of the bat, feathered in his two big paws." - New York Daily News circa 1930.

"How to hit home runs: I swing as hard as I can, and I try to swing right through the ball. I swing big with everything I've got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can." - Babe Ruth.

"From now on I intend to organize my own law out there in right field. From now on any fan who thinks he has a license to use bad language in the right field bleacher is going to get a fine surprise.... If any fan in the future uses indecent language, either to me or any other Yankee, I will stop the game, call a policeman, and have the fan thrown out of the park. I am going to be my own law from now on." - Babe Ruth quoted in the 'New York Daily Telegram, May 30, 1929.

"Hot as Hell, ain't it, Prez." - On being introduced to President Calvin Coolidge on a hot, humid day before a game at the old Washington Senators' stadium.

"Lou Gehrig is a wonderful guy to room with. He doesn't snore and he could sleep on a meat hook." - Babe Ruth on roommate Lou Gehrig.

"On Fame - I knew an old priest once. How I envy him. He was not trying to please a crowd. He was merely trying to please his own immortal soul... So fame never came to him... I am listed as a famous home-runner, yet beside that obscure priest, who was so good and so wise, I never got to first base." - Babe Ruth on Fame - What I think of it... American Magazine, August 1933.

Baseballhistorian.com - Newspaper Clippings

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