The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-07-17

Just what effect the forthcoming draft
will have upon baseball 10 not yet out
lined for public consumption.
We have heard two definite PROPOSE
First-Th.t no ball players would be
drafted
Second-That any ball player drafted
would be given untN October to report.
The last proposition may be true. Tho
first doesn't sound reasonable. Ball
players will undoubtedly be treated Just
AZ other citizens. II may be tho exemp-
ton board will try and figure thinGs out
In such a way that no ono club will bs
unduly, broken up while othors lose no
valuable fesh.
II may bo also that any players drafted.
especially those who have been drilling
In tho American league, will be given
until October TO report. For by October
they will be far better drilled than any
rockies secured In August or September
But as there are any number OF unmar-
ried bau players betwesn tho ages OF II
and 20 who are In first class physical
shape many OF these will be called from
the diamond toward tho trench--and
many more will very likely 20 after the
season 10 over
Physical Conditions.
One expert OF tho game who has been
following baseball for over twenty years
says that very few will be accepted for
physical reasons.
His idea is that most ball players have
Gnarled or broken fingers. and that good
fingers are among tho essentials for mill
tary service.
He says also that any number OF bah
players havo been badly spiked or cut
at one time or another and that few will
bs found with feet and legs In proper
condition for service,
Il talked with recruiting sergeant
about this baseball problem" he said,
and was informed that tho sergeant
supposedly fine physical specimens and
that for reasons assigned above only one
could be accepted by tho army"
Just how fnr a broken, twisted or
gnarled finger would figure In elimna-
tion we do not know. Most ball players
have this defect hut until thoy actually
come up for army examination the cor
rect status will not he known.
Army and Sport.
u 10 a queer fact that any number Of
athletes who might be football. basebal
or tennis stars cannot pass tho army eI'
animation.
And many others who, physically, ar,
hardly considered husky enough for foot
ball or baseball or tho ring, are o. X In
the Khaki league.
We know several husky citizens. ath.
letes In training only brief while back
who have been dropped out at various
quarters arranged for the officers re,
serve corps.
In some cases old football or basebal
Injuries that had been forgotten broush
disqualification when the long hlkinI
and the grind OF the drill began 10 ge
In its work
Yet training In sport has made II IA
easier for those who were retained. Thos,
accustomed to hard exercise have foun'
the military training easy enough 4
stand, where upon others, unused to
NE In the open, the routine fell with
stunning crash.
A man, for example. who plays goo,
many sets OF tennis a week. or VIII
plays golf with fair frequency. takes bu
little time to get In fine shape for tn
hiking and drilling,
Johnny over,on or Howard Berry.
Take. for leading Illustrations, the case
Of Johnny Overton and Howard Berry
Overton has been training several year
for cross-country runs and mile sprint,
cross-country hike would be hothn
10 him.
Howard Berry has been playing foo,bs
and baseball and In between lndulging I
llfe upon the track-running, jumpin
and the like A day or two and he coul
stand any physical ordeal
Another Side.
But one athlete put tho matter TO u
nhy.'Ss, m snS'ne5 sS,,Sy wy m ,st s sne mG,'c, or
matter Of nerves. don't mean this
one may be afraid. hut In sport you q,
direct competition and there IL always
variety In the military end there Is
certain routinep which begins to wor
upon many nervous systems In this wa
q man who might last out a hard footbs
thentio drill where the monotony Of n
thing would soon blot out his nervo,