Babe Ruth, John Goodman, Indian

[fillibuster]

Leaving the NFL channel for Sports Center last night I happened across the Babe Ruth movie, Ruth mentioning "want a motorcycle", and I watched it for a few minutes. Soon he was riding what appeared to be an Indian, maybe 1910-12? The bike was not shown after that brief bit of Ruth (Goodman) riding it.
Can anybody out there "just show me the motorcycle"?
and could anyone really verify whether the motorcycle was really a part of the Babe's history? or a Hollywood concoction?

[exeric]

I believe that was a 1918 Indian PowerPlus that belonged to our past president Bob McClean. I'm pretty sure about the year of the Indian because I remember that it was a smooth tank PP. I don't know if Babe Ruth was a motorcyclist, but if he wasn't there were many celebrities that were.

[exeric]

I did some googling and discovered that Babe Ruth bought an Indian with his first baseball paycheck. I believe this was in 1914 and he paid $50 for it so it probably wasn't new and it could have been a '10-'12 Indian. However, in the movie, that is Bob McCleans Indian they used.

[fillibuster]

I did some googling and discovered that Babe Ruth bought an Indian with his first baseball paycheck. I believe this was in 1914 and he paid $50 for it so it probably wasn't new and it could have been a '10-'12 Indian. However, in the movie, that is Bob McCleans Indian they used.

Thanks Eric.
That's pretty special, kinda makes my day. .. except for my not-so-quick eye. I knew Ruth started playing pro around 1914, but I didn't see a swing-arm. $50, huh.
Now I gotta go to the new web site and see if the bike's in there.

[pisten-bully]

Hey! I googled "Babe Ruth on a motorcycle"' then selected "images" from the top, and voila....there he is....but it's a later Indian than a 1914.

[c.o.]

Phil... start slowing things down at 1:03.

[panthersteve]

I googled it too and found something saying he paid $115 for the Indian

[c.o.]

I googled it too and found something saying he paid $115 for the Indian

It's hard to say with the ol' google machine. It's my understanding that at the start of the regular season of 1914 that his first paycheck went to purchasing a 50 dollar motorcycle. One might have to find a period article in a newspaper to see what they were saying in the day.

[AFJ]

A couple of links to the Babe Ruth and Indian motorcycle story. It seems that about the first thing that Ruth bought himself when he became a professional ball player was an Indian motorcycle. But exactly when was that in 1914?
After signing he went to the Providence team in the International league and pitched a game in Toronto (Canada) in which he allowed the Toronto team only one hit, hit his first professional league home run (a three run homer). Providence won 9-0. The rest, as they say, is history.

AFJ

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-02-03/news/1995034227_1_ruth-park-at-camden-camden-yards

http://torontoplaques.com/Pages/Babe_Ruth_at_Hanlans_Point.html