Only Lightly Brushed by the Social Veneer We Call Civilization: the Babe Ruth Thread

Anyone read Jane Leavy's bio?

https://sabr.org/latest/jane-leavys-big-fella-babe-ruth-wins-2019-sabr-seymour-medal

Almost died during the 1918 epidemic, apparently--not because of the flu, which he did contract, but rather a quack treatment.

https://www.insidehook.com/article/sports/influenza-pandemic-that-nearly-killed-babe-ruth

Jimmy Breslin, writing about Babe Ruth: pic.twitter.com/EdBYWdGBJV

— Todd Radom (@ToddRadom) September 7, 2021

I've been intermittently struggling with The Sound and the Fury for months. I finish other books, pick it up for a couple of weeks, put it down for a few more, resume again. I tried in university 40 years ago, gave up in the middle of the first section. I feel like it's something I have to do.

Never knew Ruth turns up (third section, the least obscure):

"Well," Mac says, "I reckon you've got your money on the Yankees this year."
"What for?" I says.
"The Pennant," he says. "Not anything in the League can beat them."
"Like hell there's not," I says. "They're shot," I says. "You think a team can be that lucky for ever?"
"I don't call it luck," Mac says.
"I wouldn't bet on any team that fellow Ruth played on," I says. "Even if I knew it was going to win."
"Yes?" Mac says.
"I can name you a dozen men in either League who're more valuable than he is," I says.
"What have you got against Ruth?" Mac says.
"Nothing," I says. "I haven't got any thing against him. I don't even like to look at his picture."

In view of the speaker, an unmistakable and ugly subtext there.