Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
GR|FF|TH's GREAT WORK
BASEBALL EQUIPMENT is
SENT TO EACH CANTOMMENT
Makes Plans for Supplying Each Reg
lment In Army with Pnraphernallu.
Spreading Gnmc Throughout World.

NEW YORK, December THE
forceful little manager of the Wash
-insion Senators. is doing 4 great and
grand thing for the benefit of Encie
Sanuel's soldiers ard sailers. He is
doing more than that. for his Bat and
Bail Fund. besides beinG a blessing to
the boys in uniform. is Il great thing
for baseball
Griffith attressed the minor league
Louisville. and gave them the low est
of the low downs on the Bat and Ball
Fund plan. He told of the good re-
suits he has had SO far, and of his
plans for the future. He made IN
appeal for the aid OF the National AS
ISOLATION. and after he had finished
talking the association voted him 4
unanimous promise to lend its valu.
able assistance.
AS axresult OF Griff's visit TO Louis
&ille. eTsEy minor league club that is
20 percent of the gate receipts to-
Retner with collection taken un
among the fans on certain date be-
tween June and June IL. Griffith
has II figured that this will bring in
enough money TO supply every regi
baseball paraphernalia for months
following its receipt. and he told the
minor leaguers at their meeting that
he has ways and means provided TO
supply all camps with bats, balls,
Eitts and masks.
When 1t is remembered that GriH's
kits of baseball tools have been sent
to our boys in France rs we'll as to
every cantonment camp in the coun-
try. the extent OF the undertaking can
be appreciated. And just as fast AS
new soldiers enter the camps they will
will take their baseball outfits with
them.
baseball Belt Around World.
Griffith plans to keep on furnishing
the soldiers and sailors with balls and
bats for the duration OF the war. And
by the time the war Is over, Griff's
baseball paraphernalia VIII have made
belt around the world IL his hopes
come true.
In addressing the leagues at Louis.
willie, Griff called their attention to
the fact that baseball owes fits great
est impetus to the period just after
the close Of the Civil War. When
peace came between the North and
South and the soldiers returned to
their homes. thousands OF them, hard
as nails and in great condition. they
had to find an outlet for pent-up
energy. They had to have exercise
and recreation. and they took up base
ball with vim and viEor that made
the growth of the game remarkably
rapid from that time UP to the present
day.
When the big world war ends Grit
fifth hopes to see the National pastinne
played in every country on the globe.
He said scat Louisville. and it is no,
an idle dream with him. a recent re-
port from London showed that baseball
was the most popular sport in Eng
land during the past summer.
At first the games drew crowds OF
1000 and less. But as the English
sport-loving public began to get ac-
quainted with the game it became en-
thusiastic. and during the autumn II
was common for games to be played
with crowds of $4,000 and more look
ing on. The British youth and the
sports public in England generally.
goes in for sports with n whole
heartedness and enthusiasm which IS
characteristic. and once baseball rets
a real foothold in the British Isles n
is bound to grow by leaps and bounos.
In France, where the Sammies have
been playing exhibition games since
they followed General Pershing across
the pond, the game is fast becoming
popular with the followers OF snort.
and If Clark Grifflth's predictions come
true. 1t will be only n matter of few
years until there will be real worlds
series played between teams from ali
over the globe.