He Hopes to Throw This Curse Out at the Plate in Fenway Park

If a New England philanthropist has his way, the Boston Red Sox will open their 1995 season by burning the contract that sent Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the New York Yankees.

Alan Shawn Feinstein, the Cranston, R.I., owner of the original copy of the 1920 contract that shipped the then-Boston pitcher to New York, offered to give the document to Red Sox management, if they promise to torch it at home plate of Fenway Park next opening day.

In the more than seven decades since Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees, New York has won 22 World Series. Boston, which won five titles between 1903 and 1918, has won none.

Legend has it that Ruth put a curse on the Red Sox for selling him and Feinstein thinks burning the contract will end it.

Add curse: In 1967, Boston lost Game 7 of the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals when Manager Dick Williams tried to pitch ace Jim Lonborg on two days’ rest.

In 1975, the Red Sox stayed alive against the Cincinnati Reds by winning Game 6 on Carlton Fisk’s dramatic 12th-inning home run, but lost Game 7.

And in 1986, Boston was one victory away from wrapping up a six-game World Series triumph over the New York Mets when a ground ball went through the legs of first baseman Bill Buckner and gave the Mets a come-from-behind victory. The Mets went on to win Game 7.

Trivia time: Among Babe Ruth’s 714 home runs, how many were inside the park?

The door is open: Michael Jordan, when asked about the chance of his returning to the NBA: “It’s real teeny and real weeny.�

Sounds logical: The New Jersey Nets are thinking of a name change. Swamp Dragons is one of the candidates. The NBA team’s management said it wants a livelier image, but why Swamp Dragons?

The Nets’ home arena is in the Meadowlands sports complex, which was built on what were once wetlands.

Cashing in: Gaylord Perry, who made the Hall of Fame as a pitcher despite persistent cries that he was throwing illegal spitballs, has a new item on baseball’s memorabilia market.

It is a jar of petroleum jelly, the kind he allegedly used to apply to baseballs. It’s priced at $39.

Tough opponent: Britain’s Sir Alf Ramsey was once approached by an El Salvador soccer coach, who asked how he should get his team ready for the World Cup.

“You arrange 11 garbage cans around the field and dribble through them endlessly,� Ramsey said. Later, he checked back to see how the El Salvador team was doing.

“Not so good,� the coach said. “The garbage cans are ahead, two to nil.�

Trivia answer: Nine.

Quotebook: Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, on the World Cup: “Soccer to me is 90 minutes of nonstop turnovers, with no natural progression to the goal. And when it’s almost over, they don’t even tell you how much time is left, for goodness’ sake.�