The Baby Babe Ruth Mentor

A week after I posted my Going Bananas link to Home of Brown, Mr Fenn conveniently responded with Scrapbook 202 and the repeat of the Babe Ruth bar aberration. For those unfamiliar with the Babe Ruth aberration, Mr. Fenn talks of his Finding Lewis and Clark adventure and only took a couple of Babe Ruth candy bars with them for food. The correct name of the sweet candy bar is actually Baby Ruth, though the Chicago based Curtis Candy Company capitalized on Babe Ruth's growing fame in 1920 by renaming the Kandy Kake to Baby Ruth and claimed it was named after Grover Cleveland's daughter so they would not have to pay royalties to Babe Ruth.

So why did Mr. Fenn use this aberration twice as a hint to a clue and which clue is it? There are a couple of interesting reasons for its use. The first one is the Italian Ferrero Company now owns the rights to the Baby Ruth Bar and Mr. Fenn went out of his way to mention he loves Italians. That in itself is a bit of a stretch compared to the real reason. Take the year, 1920 and place of origin of the Baby Ruth candy bar. This is the year that the Chicago Black Sox Scandal erupted in Chicago for throwing the 1919 World series and the year this photo was taken.

Next, note who is sitting beside Babe Ruth in that picture. That is Shoeless Joe Jackson, the player who Babe Ruth modelled his swing after. Shoeless Joe Jackson was one of baseball's best hitters was banned from baseball while playing for the Chicago White Sox for taking bribes and losing the 1919 World Series. He then played minor ball under the assumed name of Brown. As I mentioned previously many times in my writings, Shoeless Joe's home is in Greenville, SC (at Forrest's first posting) and is now a museum named "Sweet Spot." The sweet spot is in the wood of his famous bat, Black Betsy. The "sweet" Baby Ruth candy bar is also a subtle hint to "Sweet Spot."

In Scrapbook 202, Mr Fenn once again uses the suspect word "nailed" the wrappers to the sign, when they were actually taped. He was repeatedly linked "nailed" to clue one stating "searchers need to nail it down." I have speculated that the clues answers hint to the next clue meaning and nailed down is a reference to a roof or a home of which in this case is Shoeless Joe's home "Sweet Spot." "Nailed" is also a baseball term and hints to the home being baseball related. "Nailed by a pitch", "nailed him at the plate" or "nail down the win" all support baseball. Consistent with Forrest hint style, his plea for searchers to get back into the box is actually the batter's box.

Say what? I went from clue 1 to clue 3? Yes, I did, but clue 2 is "Not far but too far to walk" and if you are nailed by a pitch you take a walk, which is 90 feet, not far but too far to walk, so you would run to first base as it is not proper in the sport to walk the distance. Speaking of which the Abbot and Costello "Who's on first" mentions Dizzy Dean, another Forrest Fenn baseball tie in. The poem is polluted with baseball terms, "take" a pitch/base, "walk", "home" plate, "in the wood" (sweet spot).

A patern is emerging, Mr. Fenn appears to be going back and emphasizing those subtle memoir hints to make them a little less subtle. Before I wrap up this post, note the candy bar wrapper emphasis of scrapbook 202, the word wrap is also significant to a certain key to solving this poem. She is wrapped in a robe and wrapped her "baby" in swaddling clothes. (smile)

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