On this date a century ago, Babe Ruth officially joined the New York Yankees. While the principles of the deal were completed 11 days prior, the sale of Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the Yankees was officially consummated on Jan. 5, 1920.
The legend goes, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to finance his play, “No, No Nanette.” Paid in installments, the sum total sale of Ruth came out to $100,000 or about $1.6 million in today’s dollars.
What ensued was the “Curse of the Bambino,” which lasted 86-years.