Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-13
BLUE RIDGE LEAGUE BOYS
ENLIST WITH UNCLE SAM
Players From Mountain Circuit Arc
Prompt to Rcsponj to Coun-
try'S CnIl for Soldiers.

HAGERSTOWN. MD. January IL
pride TO the way its players, including
recent graduates. tave responded to
the call of Uncle Sam and said good
by TO baseball. at least for Il time. to
join the ranks of the khaki clad Only
a partial list can he made here, but 1t
proves that as far as men who got
their training in the little Blue Ridge
are concerned at least there has been
no Stacking.
The first TO say farewell to the Blue
Ridge fans was Manager Jack Hurley.
OF the Hagcrstown team. Jack left in
the middle of August with his outfit on
the top runs OF the ladder. where 1t
stayed until il won the gonfalon. Jack
left with a nice individual record. also.
batting nearly 400 and leading the
hittcrs. |; was off to Fort Mycr for
Jack. When his three months of train
ing were over silver bar on each
shoulder OF the successful leader In
baseball showed a first lieutcnan;'s
right to lead a band to q more glorious
victory in the great world league con-
nict.
Right in Jack Hurley's footsteps fol-
lowed two other Iagerstown players.
whose losses put the team for time
in bad shape and almost killed our
pcnnant hopes They were Lester
Bangs and Foster Armstrong. Bangs
had cavortcd in left field and wa.
the best man in covering ground in the
league. Army" n name especially APP
propriatc now, was catcher. just a
kid with big hopes of success. The
two joined the army
TWO NOTABLE GRADUATES FROM
BLUE RIDGE LEAGUE ENLIST
Besides these 'Hagerstown players OF
1917, two graduates OF the Blue Ridge.
Marvin Goodwin and Bill Schcrleii. OF
ST Louis, did their patriotic bit early.
Walter Smallwood. who was will:
Newark last year, and was sold to the
ianks. is one more the Blue Ridge can
c!a;ri. Then there is Lee Percy, who
cavortcd with Martinsburg the last t'yo
years. who will cavort in the Amtu-
lance League somewhere in Eraucc."
A6d again George Rawlings, Of the
same team, who is now in the quarter
masters department in Washing ton,
and Freddie Heck, former hot-corner
man COR the rritchies. and Joe Cobb.
the Cumberland player. who was
drafted by the Tigers. Not one is
ycoman. either. mark that!
OTHERS WHO FORGOT TO REPORT
WHEN THEY JOINED COLORs
The few mentioned here are only
those that were so thouE htiui as 10 let
their home fans know how they Jared
after they hit the trail 10 their homes
when the Blue Ridge season was over.
There are more, and the Blue Ridge
is proud OF them.
1t might he given as an example that
the draft should not raise any great
havoc here, as Iiagerstown won a PEN
nant when three of its best men. in
Guiding the manager left, leaving the
team practically in a tic for first place.
No other Blue Ridge team lost a man
until the season was at a close.
The latest from Frederick. doubtful
for 1915, is from President Charles #.
Goodell. who informs us that Erred
crck fans arc game. and If the present
league officials decide to open the cir
cult for 1918, more than likely YOU will
find Frederick at tho pole" lie began
his statement saying that he could not
be optimistic. and was somewhat
doubtful as to ball in 1918, but his
finale showed that he has yet his fervor
for the game and wants to sec il back.
Sunday ball is receiving favorable
comments newspapers all over the cir
cult have shown that they desire it. and
indications are that Sunday ball will
he played next season in the Blue
Ridge.