The Washington herald., 1917-11-01
DOC AYERS GRABBED
in SELECTIVE DRAFT
Grihth's Big Pitcher May Enter the
National Army.

"old Doctor Cox" is caught In the
draft.
In face of all the rumors of the
sale of Walter Johnson and Eddie
Ainsmith to the New York and Cleve-
land Clubs, which have time and
again been denied by the Old Fox.
comes the report from the mountain
district of Hillsville, Va. that Doctor
Wyatt Yancy Ayres has been caught
In the selected conscription, and has
been ordered to report for physical
, examination, for entrance to our ma
tional army.
Ayers will no doubt be exempted as
he is married and is the father of two
children. But this report from the
hills of old Virginia has put another
wrinkle in Clark Grifith's brow, as
Ayers last season was one of the most
dependable pitchers on the National
staff, and earned bonus by pitching
over 500 per cent ball.
Griff is one Of the few lucky pilots
in major league ranks as heh has been
fortunate enough to have not lost
man to date. by either the volunteer
or conscription route. Baseball magi-
mates are beginning to realize that
war is every thing that Gen. Sherman
said 1t was.
The men who handle the reins and
likewise the money, are making plans
for some radical changes for what
they consider the most uncertain sea-
son in the history Of the national
game.
Most men behind the baseball ma
chimes believe that the selected draft
will figure most prominently In the
no Of tran tho G0rnda for
spring training in 1915. The govern
ment is sure to draft heavily upon
ball players before another season
gets started and as measure of re-
prisal for self-preservation the big
leagues will have to draft heavely on
the minor league players to fill the
ranks.
The big league will be kept in op-
Grafton by drawing on the minors, and
consequently many Of the minor
leagues which were wavering last sea-
son will be practically put out Of busi-
ness.
But few players in baseball have
volunteered their services to Uncle
Sam and the New National Army has
drawn but few by the selected route
Many escaped the draft during the
summer because they were drawn IN
the high numbers and were not called.
Hank Gowdy, the Boston Braves
world series hero was the only Dig
league ball player that deliberately
quit baseball to join the American
fighting forces.
The magnates behind the great
national pastime can see big inroads
being made on their talent by the
new ruling on the selected draft law
by which the men have been classified.
Single men and those without depen-
dents are to be drawn first. As re-
suit OF this law many players who
escaped last summer will be taken into
the army on the next draft which will
make il necessary to rebuild many OF
the major league clubs.
Every year in winter baseball cir
cles the fans begin to pan the nom
successful managers. Clarence Row
land, manager of the worlds cham
pions, is hailed as the greatest man.
ager in the game. Yet had Clarence
failed in his fight for the worlds
title Chicago fans would undoubtedly
have renewed their cries for his
scalp.
McGraw has been blamed for the
Giants downfall.
Stallings, the miracle man." who
brought the Braves from the cellar
to a worlds championship. is being
panned right and left for the Boston
slump. Fielder Jones got his" for
the Browns failure.
Connie Mack is still ridiculed for
the low standing of the Athletics.
Bill Donovan failed with the YAM
KEGS. Miller Higgins has succeeded
him.
Wilbert Robinson is not It with the
Brooklyn fans. He won last year, and
was a King" He fell this year.
Jimmy Callahan failed with the
Pirates, and was succeeded by Hugh
Bezdek, and the latter couldn't get
the Pirates out of last place.