Time for MLB to retire Babe Ruth’s No. 3
Sorry, Ken Griffey Jr., time for another new jersey. Same goes for you, Eric Chavez and Damion Easley and Kaz Matsui. Take a number, Jose Vidro and Jorge Cantu and Evan Longoria — something other than 3.
If Linda Ruth Tosetti and thousands of petitioners have their way, anyone in the big leagues who wears that numeral would have to get used to the fact that their number is up. Tosetti is campaigning to have Major League Baseball retire No. 3 on all teams in honor of her grandfather — Babe Ruth.
No Yankee has worn 3, of course, since the club retired it 60 years ago this month, not long before The Babe’s death. As far as Tosetti is concerned, Ruth belongs to all of baseball. So she has gone national, with about 6,000 signatures, and worldwide, with her Web site, www.retirebabesnumber.com.
Considering the odds, she really is taking a Ruthian swing for the fences. Judging by a letter from commissioner Bud Selig last year, her campaign has about as much traction as Rudy Giuliani’s and John Edwards’ did.
newsday.com
5/31/08
Magnolia Tribune
