Baltimore Orioles: The Day Connie Mack Turned Down Babe Ruth

BALTIMORE - 1914. The International League team representing Baltimore poses in their ballpark in 1914. Babe Ruth is posed to the far left in the team lineup. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)

In 1914, the Baltimore Orioles did the unthinkable and tried to pawn off the most famous player ever to swing a bat and throw a pitch.

At the time, the Baltimore Orioles were a part of the International League, and the team’s owner was in a cash crunch due to competition from the Federal League Baltimore Terrapins.

To make a bit of money, the Orioles owner Jack Dunn, made a deal with his friend Connie Mack. The $10,000 deal included Babe Ruth along with Ernie Shore and Ben…