Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1922-03-04 | Page 9 | Billy Evans Says

What chance has Babe Ruth to break his home run record In 1922 ? That question has been asked me a number of times during the past month us the athletes get ready to J swing Into action. To be perfectly frank. I don't bc-I bc-I lleve there is a ehance in the world 1 for Ruth to break his mark of b'J home runs. I The biggest handicap he will uf-1 uf-1 fer will be the fact that his suspen-I suspen-I slon will keep him out of perhaps 2'j games. In those LTi games It Is reasonable to suppose that he would make from seven to 10 home runs. Starting with such a handicap In an effort to better bet-ter a mark of 59 is some task. In addition Ruth will suffer from lack of actual competition when he Is permitted to enter the game. During Dur-ing the first month of the season the pitching Is usually only ordinary. However Ruth's eye would be much butler facing such pitching than merely taking his turn In bitting bit-ting pragtlie. where the pitching Is usually made to order. When Ruth gets into the game the American league pitchers will have the edge on him They will have benefited by five weeks of actual play while Ruth will be off form due to his Inactivity. In all probability It will be around June 1 before Ruth hits his stride. Personally, I doubt if Ruth is ever able to top his record of 69. although I know the big fellow feels posltlve-that posltlve-that ho will. Ruth really was disappointed disap-pointed because ho didn't get 65 last year. 1 Babe crossed me up last year by getting 09. I rather looked for his mark Of 54 to stand for some time. Perhaps he will upset the dope again befor.- h" retires but I hardly look for such n happening In 1922.