BABE RUTH AND THE YANKEES - OLD TIME BASEBALL FILM - Early film reel in three parts

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"Early film reel in three parts depicting Babe Ruth and the Yankees"

Film reel in three parts: the first a 1921 Pathe Newsreel of the Cleveland Indians hosting the New York Yankees, likely August, 1920, with Babe Ruth predominantly featured (this section likely a later print, perhaps 1930s); the second section likely a "positive master" (per Cinelab Inc.) of other baseball reportage, including footage of Carl Mays (see note); the third section an undated colorized cartoon of Ruth at the bat. The three sections spliced together at an early point. The first section of this amusing newsreel shows the Cleveland Indians hosting the New York Yankees likely during August of the 1920 season. The preoccupation of much of the footage is on Babe Ruth, his contract recently purchased from Boston, appearing here in his Yankee uniform during his first season with the team. The reel opens with the text "The sporting question of the hour. Did Babe Ruth get another [homerun] today?" and continues to show much pre-game activity including Ruth warming up his arm, at batting practice and later at the plate during the game. Also shown is Bob Muesel, Wally Pipp, and Del Pratt who was traded at end of the 1920 season helping to date the footage. This section also contains rare slow motion footage of Carl Mays "the last of the underhand pitchers" who infamously killed beloved Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman on August 16th, 1920 (during a Yankees home stand against the Indians just weeks later) and, while it is difficult to be certain, Chapman may be visible here in the sequence of the Indians dugout just before the rain delay. The second portion of the film, possibly a "positive master" print (with strong tones and contrast) shows New York Giants manager John McGraw instructing pitchers in practice, most notably Carl Mays who joined the team for one season only in 1929 (his last in the majors). Mays is shown throwing in his characteristic submarine style and is also interviewed with McGraw gripping the ball for this dangerous pitch. Combined, this footage of Carl Mays' whipping underhand delivery is a haunting reminder of the dangers of the game, and suggests that the focus of this compilation is equally on Mays as it is on Ruth.
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