Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-17
FEW Big LEAGUERS
BEYOND DRAFT AGE
Only Fifty Three Of Several
Hundred Players in Two
Major Circuits Over 81
Years of Age.

The birth records Of major league
ball players show that a large major
ity of the big toppers are subject to
conscription for military duty. OF
the several hundred players in Ameri-
can and National leagues only fifty
.hree are beyond the age limit. Eight
others will reach their thirty-hrst
birthday during the present year.
In proportion to the total men,
bership, it is doubtful l. any other
single line of endeavor could furnish
so many finely developed men for
active military service as are to be
found in the ranks of the two major
base ball leagues. 1t also goes with
out saying that the withdrawal of
those comirg within the age limit for
military duty would not leave suf-
fcient number Of peppery vets to
keep the old game running
II all the Red Sox subject to draft
were ordered to report for duty, the
only member of the worlds cham
pions left j.. the yard would be Larry
Gardener and Coach Heine Wagner.
Del Gamer will reach the age limit
next November, and Manager Jack
Barry may lay claim to the age of 81
next April.
Sam Crawford, Oscar Stanage and
Hack Spencer could form lone trio
of Detroit pastimers to carry on the
game should the Tigers be called to
the colors. Ty Cobb will reach the
safety goal next December.
Braves Hold Six.
The Boston Braves, with many vet
Grams on its roster. would be able to
hold more regulars than any other
big league team. FASTENERS with the
Stallings outfit who have passed the
age limit include Johnny Evers. Ed
Konetchy, Sherwood Magee. Pat
Ragon, Ed Reulbach and Tom
Hughes. Considerable class to this
sextet, and Manager George coud use
them to advantage in forming another
band of Braves.
A general draft of the Giants would
leave Napoleon McGraw with an army
of five to battle for the National
league pernant. The Giants who
would still be able to cavort at the
Polo grounds are Heine Zimmerman,
Captain Charley Herzog, Slim Salee,
John Lobe:t and George Gibbon.
Five OF the Dodgers and four Phil
lies would escape the draft. OF the
Phils, George Paskert, Gavvy Cra-
vath, Jimmy Lavender and Bobby
Byrne have reached the age where
nothing remains for them but to keep
on pastimng. Grover Cleveland Al
exander, the Phils' great twirler, will
reach his thirty-frst birthday next
February. Fred Luderus, also of the
Phils, will be q next September.
Five Brooks Over Age.
The Dodgers would be able to hold
Mike Mowrey, Chief Meyers, Ivan
Olson, Jack Coombs and Jake Dau-
bert. Not a bad lot of entertainers,
but Uncle Wilbur would have to go
some to cop another pennant with
them.
The Browns, the Cardinals and the
White Sox would each have three
pastimers left behind should a general
order be issued for the ball players to
report. The Browns could keep Bob
Groom, Jimmy Austin and Bert Shot
ten. The Cardinals would have "Red"
Ames, Bob Bescher and Bill Steele,
and the White Sox could retain Eddie
Cicotte and Joe Benz. Jack Miller Of
the Cardinals will reach the age limit
next September and Shang Collins Of
the White Sox will come under the
wire in December.
Other of the big leaguers who
would escape the draft because of
their age are Clyde Milan, George
Mcbride and Ed Ainsmith of the
Senators, Bill Hinchman and Frank
Schultz of the Pirates, Jimmy Archer
and Harry Wolter of the Cubs,
Home Run" Baker of the Yankees,
Hal Chase OF the Reds, Cy Falken-
burg of the Athletics and Terry Tur-
ner of the Indians.
Jack Graney Of the Indians will
reach the age limit next month, Larry
Doyle of the Cubs next July and Ping
Bodie of the Athletics next October.
Two Leagues Quit.
The Virginia league and the Georgia.
Alabama league are through pastlrning for
tha Uua ho vi