Wrestling with the Babe
By Joshua F. Moore
Don't even think about taking a swipe at the Sultan of Swat. That's the message home-run-king-turned referee George Herman "Babe" Ruth, at right, is sending to professional wrestler Manuel Cortez in this remarkable photograph taken during a match at the Portland Expo back in 1945. According to an account in the Lowell Sun, Cortez had been overly rough with his opponent, Seattle's Leo Numa, from the opening bell during a match in front of 2,300 excited Portlanders, and referee Ruth had to warn him repeatedly against unnecessary roughness.
Read more Down East: Click here to subscribe to Down East Magazine and save over 50%, or purchase the issue from our ARCHIVES.
