Evening star., 1917-01-01
PROSPEROUS ERA FOR SPORTS
DAWNS WITH THE NEW YEAR
Revival in Nearly All Lines of Athletics In
1916 Augurs Well for Both Profess
sional and Amateur Competition.

I best .problematical? It IL doubtful. es-
pecially in these times OF high prices.
The habit Of visiting the cashiers cage
on the 1st and 18th Is too firmly i'm
As for the club owners welcoming a
strike-they wouldn't. The hard times
from which they are only just emerging
have served to spur them on in their
efforts to put the game back on its
former paying basis, and closing their
ball parks is not calculated to help them
recoup their losses.
Local Club to Elect Officers.
Officers are to be elected and a board
Of directors chosen at the annual meeting
Of the Washington base ball club in its
offices in the Southern building tomor-
row at noon. Plans for the conduct Of
the business affairs of the club in the
coming season will be discussed. but no
changes OF moment are anticipated in
either the personnel Of the officials or
in the financially successful policy Of ad-
ministering Its affairs which obtained last
season.
Boxing as Popular as Base Ball.
Boxing has become as popular
pastime as base ball in Wisconsin. ac-
cording to the annual report of the
state boxing commission. just issued.
The official statement declares the
sport no longer Is 'on trial." but has
become firmly established in the esti-
nation Of citizens with sporting pro-
clivities.
In more than 1000 bouts in Wiscon-
sin there have been no serious in
juries to contestants and the conduct
of the shows Is more orderly than the
oNy crn iOh col ho Ia h0
according to the commission. The
states general fund has received in
fees and taxes s29.132 since the crea-
ton of the commission and the public
has paid $658.251 In admission fees
during that time.
Another Star Fades From View.
Another of base balrs luminaries has
passed from the big show. according to
report from Chicago. which says that
Ed Walsh has been given his uncondi-
tional release by the White Sox 1t has
been apparent for several years that
Walsh had lost his ability to fool the
batsmen. Various kinds Of treatment.
including long rests. have convinced
him he never will be able to regain II.
1t is unlikely that Comiskey will turn
Walsh adrift. however. The famous
spit ball pitcher has done much for the
shown his appreciation in more ways
than one. If Walsh does not aspire to
become owner or manager Of some
minor league team Comiskey may set
him up in business in Meriden, Conn,
his home town, or in any other city he
may pick. Walsh. it is said. will ac-
company the Sox on their spring train
ing trip. but only in an advisory ca
pacity.
Ed Walsh was one of the genuine
Iron men" Of base ball. and when at
the height of his power it was not
uncommon for him to appear in four
or five games a week. He always was
available for relief duty when one of
his fellow s1abmen was faltering, and
seldom did he fail to stop the opposi-
ton. 1t is a mOoted question whether
use of the damp ball or overwork
served to shorten his career, but the
correct answer probably is both.
A peculiar trait in Walsh was that,
Notwithstanding the yeoman service he
did for the Sox, he never was "ft' for
work. Whenever he was carded to
start a game Walsh would assure his
manager that his arm had a kink in 1t
and complain of a stim neck or a sore
throat. The longer the list of ailments
Walsh would enumerate the more con-
fident the team pilot would be that it
was Eds day. and the big fellow in.
variably justified that confidence.