[AZTarHeel]

1915-16 Winter Meetings

Babe Ruth Update
Phoenix, winners of the 1915 Cactus Champions Cup, hosted this year's Winter Meetings, and the biggest buzz centered around The Babe.

Yep, word broke long before the Meetings that Babe Ruth would make himself available for the 1916 draft. Last year at this time, he was planning on joining the Nevada-Utah Baseball Association, but he changed his mind and never even set foot in either state.

Some speculate that Commissioner Doc Victory traveled all the way to the East Coast to meet with Ruth and persuade him not to join the Nevada-Utah league. NUBA officials harshly criticized Victory for that, though the speculation has not been confirmed by anyone. All Ruth is saying is that he had a change of heart and is excited about the prospect of playing in Arizona beginning with the 1916 season.

As it turns out, Ruth spent the 1915 season competing on a youth showcase team put together by none other than Clyde Cooley of Show Low, the man who makes a yearly request to get an AZL franchise in his beloved town (and who is now in charge of the All-Star Game as well as Payson's Double A franchise located in Show Low). Other top prospects on that team included 2B Rogers Hornsby and pitcher Stan Covelesky.

Also on that team, Commissioner Victory's grandson, Phinieus "Lil Doc" Victory. He was mostly used as a pinch runner because he can fly (and was included mostly as a favor to the Commish -- when he asks for something, you'd better listen). Lil Doc pitched a few times and beaned three guys in an inning of one game. His bat got better, but he's a long shot to ever get drafted by an AZL team. His claim to fame: he shares a birthday with twins, Babe and George Ruth...

You probably won't find Babe Ruth getting drafted by the hometown Phoenix Dust Devils considering that the Devils won the AZL championship in '15 and won't have a high draft pick. It's doubtful that Babe will link up with his brother George in Tucson for that same reason.

The Tombstone Epitaphs are on the clock with the first pick, with the Tempe Sun Devils, Bisbee Prospectors and Yuma Prisoners on deck after that...