Associated Press (AP) reporter Paul Mickelson spoke with New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, “In the spacious reception room of his big brewery on Third Avenue,” in February of 1937. The subject; Ruppert’s complaint about the “unreasonable demands” of his players, specifically Lou Gehrig and Lefty Gomez whom the “owner aimed punch after punch.”
Jacob Ruppert
Ruppert said Gehrig and Gomez had cost the Yankees the pennant in 1935 because of their post season barnstorming tour of Japan:
“’Gehrig comes to my office contract in hand and says he ought to get more than $31,000 next season.’ The Colonel opened up on his star first baseman. ‘He doesn’t say a word about his poor season in 1935 when he got $31,000 too. He doesn’t mention that he made more than $6000 in the World Series. All he could remember is what he did (in 1936).
“So, I told him about it, refreshed his memory. I told him we were just getting back some of the money we lost in the lean years and that if he and Gomez hadn’t gone to Japan we would have won the 1935 pennant. He hasn’t much to say but he leaves his contract. Hmph.”
During his “poor season” in 1935, Gehrig hit .329 with 30 home runs and 120 RBI.
Gehrig
He then turned his attention to Gomez, who followed his great 26-5 2.33ERA season with a 1215 3.18 ERA in 1935 after the Japan trip after his second straight sub par season in 1936 (13-7 4.39), Gomez’ salary was cut from $20,000 to $13,500:
“’And Gomez. He’s got a lot of nerve saying we offered him a bat boy’s salary. He’s lucky we didn’t cut him worse than we did. After he got back from Japan, he couldn’t pitch up a dark alley. He did a poor job in ’35 and not much better last season. Still we paid him well. Hmph.”
Gomez
Ruppert wasn’t finished, and next directed his wrath at Jake Powell. Powell was acquired by the Yankees from the Washington Senators in June of 1936, and hit .302 with New York, and led the Yankees with a .455 average in the World Series:
“’He beats them all,’ said the colonel. ‘He calls my attention to the number of hits he made in the World Series. That’s a laugh. On that basis, what about poor (Bill) Dickey? He made only three hits to Powell’s 10. I suppose then, I should pay Powell three times as much as I pay Dickey. That shows how a baseball player’s mind works sometimes.”
Powell got a raise to $9000 for the 1937 season.
Ruppert finished the interview with his favorite story from the 1936 series. Catcher Bill Dickey hit .120. Rupert said Dickey approached him in his box before one at bat:
“’Rub this bat for me Mr. Rupert,’ he said. ‘Then I’ll hit a home run sure.’
“’Bill went up to bat with blood in his eyes,’ laughed the colonel. “And struck out.’”
Gomez continued his holdout until March 5 when he accepted his pay cut, Gehrig signed March 18, The AP reported that he signed for $36,000; Gehrig had asked for $40,000.
Baseball History Daily 
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