Perhaps the best illustration of the “Ruth Effect” is provided by looking at 1925, when he played in only ninety-eight games, his fewest as a Yankee. Attendance plummeted 34 percent and revenues dropped 22.5 percent. In 1926, when a reformed and resurgent Ruth led the major leagues in home runs (47), runs scored (139), RBI (153), walks (144), on-base percentage (.516), and slugging (.737), the Yankees drew 1,027,675 spectators and their revenue jumped 72 percent to $1.6 million.
