Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-16

pen epistles on sports in general and
the American amateur athlete in par
ticular. In a recent article. forecast
ing a healthier standard Of amateur
sport after the great conflict. one Of
the leading English dailies expresses
the hope that after the war there will
be no further efforts to "AmericAnize"
British sports or help for the Olym-
pic Games with its American Sham
ateur."
will professionalism in athletics
survive the war so far as Great Bril-
tain is concerned?" it asks. we sin
cerely hope it will not. Seing that We
shall have to study thrift. collectively
and individually. it would be absurd
for us to go on paying men to play
games for us.
1T is surprising how many Of our
professional athletes have failed TO
pass the DOCTOR when periodically en-
deavoring to enlist. On the whole. II
is to be hoped that the war will make
an end of athletic professionalism in
this country. There will be no money
to spare for it's maintenance: and
what can be spared for athletic pur-
poses should go to providing playing
fields for the masses Of our urban
population.
There should be no more sending of
the hat around for the Olympic
Games. for revivals, or other grandiose
schemes Of international sport. which
serve only, so far as can see, to help
the American super-specialist,
shamateur' more often than not.
80
athletes, but sternly refusing to pay
or even praise the super-athlete for
cultivating useless agility and an alb
normal physique"
Another indication of the growth of
sport in this country is found in the
manner in which the seasons overlap.
Within a month the first football
games of 1916 will be underway with
the pennant races in the major leagues
still several weeks from completion.
BY the time the last contest of the
Worlds Series has been settled the
gridiron teams of the larger UNIVERSE
ties will be facing opponents who Sc
cretly cherish the idea that they are
about to upset all football traditions
by racing through and around the big
fellows lines for double figure scores.
Fred (Topsy) Hartsel. veteran out
fielder. has bid adieu to baseball. He
has returned to his home in Toledo
after turning in his Fort Wayne,
Central League. uniform and announc-
ing that his diamond career was at
an end. Hartsel began playing pro-
fessional ball in 1897 passing in turn
through the minor major and back
to the minor leagues again during his
20 years Of baseball. His best game
was played while a member of the
Chicago Nationals and the Philadel-
phia Athletics. For ten years he was
a member Of the Athletics under Con-
ME Mack, playing in the Worlds Sc
ries of 1905 and 1910.
California is grooming another high
Jumper to take the place of George
HORNE and Eddie Beeson, when the
spring has departed from the legs of
the latter pair. The new leaping pro-
dizzy is Ira Jacobs, an eighteen year
old schoolboy. who is clearing better
than 6 feet consistently and with little
effort.
The 19-inning game between the
Fairbury and York teams. of the Ne
| braskan State League, won by home
run drive over the fence just "a hours
before the league disbanded, will hard
ly be cited as a brief by those who
doubt the honesty of baseball
| With the restoration Of football at
Columbia University q new eligibility
code has been adopted by the largest
of the American universities. Here
after no freshman will be eligible to
represent Columbia in major sports
no student can represent the universe
ty for more than four years in major
sports and no student holding degree
from another college or university car
represent Columbia in any sport. These
rules have been in effect, so far as
the Columbia oarsmen are concerned
for several years but the new code will
now apply to the football, baseball and
track teams.
| The question as to whether a batter
was Intentionally passed to first is q
constant source of argument among
baseball fans. In a recent game in
the Central Association, the pitcher OF
the Waterloo Club left no doubt re-
garding his intentions by pitching
four balls to the first baseman instead
of the catcher. Following the fourth
pitch the umpire ordered the batter
to take his base, whereupon the Keo.
kuk Club manager protested the de.
cision and game. When the latter
team won the contest in a subsequen,
rally the question of the protest was
dropped.
Tennis racquet makers and repair.
ers report unprecedented business FOL
the season to date. Several of The
most expert racquet stringers Of ths
east state that never in the history oil
tennis has the demand in their line
been so heavy. The increase in tourn-
ament play and the continued damp
weather are reasons advanced for thi:
unusul sale Of racquets and their FIRE.
quent return for repairs.
Two runners thrown out at the plate
on one play recently occurred in two
different games on the same day. Ont
of these unusual plays was made In 9
game between the Lincoln and Witch.
ita clubs of the Western League and
the other in the Pittsburg Brooklyn
game in the National League.