VANCOUVER (AP) - Babe Ruth today hung up his spikes and accepted terms to become the new manager of the Tacoma Rainiers - the AAA affiliate of the Vancouver Mounties. Last year's Rainiers were very good indeed, boasting future Weaver Leaguers like Orlando Tracy and pitcher Mel Tavares. Ruth was optimistic about his future as a manager, and was happy with the Mounties offer.

"I regret to inform the Vancouver public that I will be retiring from the game effective immediately. This decision was not taken lightly, but I feel that at 41, my best years are behind me and it's time to move into a new phase of my career. The Mounties have been very good to me, and to have an offer like this waiting for me when I retired was really comforting. I'll be more than happy to manage in the minors until my chance in the big leagues comes along."

Ruth, who finished his career with a .335 average and 594 home runs, thought that he had a lot to teach the youngsters in Tacoma.

"I can teach them a lot about what kind of things you have to do on a day-to-day basis to play baseball in the Weaver League. As a 20-year veteran I've had some strange managers, and some very good managers, and I like to think that I've learned a little something from every one of them. I'm looking forward to working with some of the guys that will end up in AAA next season, and also doing some planning with the GM and Mounties manager Ryne Sandberg as to when the time is right to bring some of these kids up."

"This is a very talented organization and I can safely say that even though I never won a championship here, I am very happy with what we have accomplished as a group."