South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-04
GRIFFITH DOING
BIC BIT FOR j. s.
Promotes Campaign for Ball
and Bat Funds With Great
Success.
BY Jack veiock.

Clark Griffith.
The forcefui little manager Of the
Washington Senator'S is doing a
great and grand thing for the bene-
AZ Of Uncle samueTs soldiers anG
sailors lie Is doing more than that.
for his bat and ball fund, besides
being a blessing TO the boys in uni
form, is a great thing for baseball
Grimth addressed the minor
league magnates AT their annual
meeting in Louisvii4e and gave them
the lowest OF the low downs on the
bat and bali fund plan lie told Of
The good results ne has had so far
and Of his plans for the future. He
made an appeal for the aid Of the
National association, and after he
had finished talking the association
voted him unanimous promise 10
lend is valuable assistance
Every Club to Help.
As a result Of Griffs visit 10
Louisville every minor league club
mat is operating next season will
turn over 25 per cent OF the gate
receipts together with a collection
taken Up among the fans on a Ger
tain date between June j and June
Is. Griffith has IL figured that this
viii bring i'm enough money 10
supply every regiment in the can
comment camps with baseball para
phernalia for months following its
receipt and ne told the minor
leaguers az their meeting that he
has ways and means provided 10
supply all camps with hats balls,
n1itts and masks.
When il is remembered that
Grims kits OF baseball tools have
been sent to our boys in France as
well as 20 every cantonment camp
in the country. the extent of the
undertaking can be appreciated.
And just as fast as new soldiers en-
ter the camps they will be provided,
for the departing boys will take
sheir baseball outfits with them
Griffith plans TO keep on furnish
ing the soldiers and sailors with
halls and bats for the duration Of
the war. And by the time the war
- over Griff's baseball parapher-
MALTA VIII have made q belt around
the world II his hopes come true.
Recalls Civil War.
Tn addressing the leaguers az Lou
tsviIle Griff called their attention to
the fact that baseball owes its great
est impetus 10 the period just after
the close of the Civil war When
peace came between the North and
south and the soldiers returned to
heir homes, thousands Of them
hard as nails and in great condition,
shey had to ind an outlet for pent-
up energy. They had 10 have eX-
ercise and recreation. and they took
NJ baseball with vim and vigor
hat made the growth Of the game
remarkably rapid from that time
I'D TO the present day.
When the big world war ends
friffth hopes to see the national
oastime played in every country on
he globe. He said so at Louisville.
md il is not an idle dream with
him A recent report from London
showed that baseball was the most
popular sport in England during the
past summer.
At first the games drew crowds of
600 and less. But as the English
,port-loving public began 10 get ac-
Iuainted with the game il became
Enthusiastic, and during the autumn
vas common for games 20 be
played with crowds of $1,000 and
more looking on. The British youth
md the sports public i'm England
generally goes in for sports with
hole-heartednesS and enthusiasm
which is characteristics. and once
baseball gets a real foothold i'm the
British Isles IL is bound 90 grow by
caps and bounds.
Tn France, where the Sanmies
nave been playing exhibition games
4nce they followed Gen. PershinE
tcross the pond. the game is fast
p-scominE popular with the follow
RS OF sport, and If Clark GrifHths
predictions come true il VIII be only
4 matter OF "a few years until there
vnI be real worlds series PLAYED
,etween teams from all over the
lobe