:39:00
...will be compromised
by this new 162-game season.
:39:05
A lot of you are already writing about this.
Obviously, you're concerned, too.
:39:10
That's right. Ruth hit 17 that September.
:39:13
Baby, what he woulda
done with eight extra games.
:39:16
Yeah, he mighta hit 70.
:39:17
Okay. What if Mantle breaks it
on the last game of the season?
:39:21
Is that fair to the Babe?
:39:23
I think Mantle's got a shot at it
if he stays healthy...
:39:25
...but Maris is in a groove
like I've never seen.
:39:28
Wouldn't that be a story?
:39:29
The crew cut from Fargo
becomes the new Babe Ruth.
:39:32
"Roger, how does it feel
to be new home run king?"
:39:34
"Pretty good, I guess."
:39:39
With all respect to these guys,
and they are great players...
:39:43
...the year that Babe hit 60...
:39:45
...he had more home runs
than every team in the American League.
:39:50
What if they both break it?
That would really tarnish the record.
:39:53
Tarnish, what?
This is a fantastic story, fellas.
:39:57
Two Yankees,
playing in the house that Ruth built...
:39:59
...both going after his record.
Its great for baseball.
:40:02
And if I may be permitted a cliché,
records are made to be broken.
:40:06
If it's broken in the same number of games.
:40:08
Bullshit, Sam!
:40:10
When Ruth set his first record in 1921,
he played in 14 more games...
:40:14
...than the guy
who set the record before him.
:40:16
Where was the uproar then?
No, I say a season's a season.
:40:20
We hear what you're sayin', but something
about this just doesn't seem right.
:40:24
And there should be separate records.
One for each season. Right, Ford?
:40:28
Separate records?
What are we doin' here?
:40:30
And we could put an asterisk in it,
to show the difference, you know?
:40:33
Why not?
:40:35
Otherwise,
it just would not be fair to the Babe.
:40:37
Gentlemen, thank you for coming.
I have a brief statement.
:40:41
As commissioner of major league baseball,
it is my determination...
:40:45
...given the length of this year's season...
:40:47
...that any record broken
in more than 154 games...
:40:51
...will be held as a distinct
and separate record.
:40:55
Is this ruling directed at the M&M Boys
and their chase of Ruth's record?
:40:58
No. This goes for any record.