The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-24
~ Up to the Minute
~ SPORTING NEWS
W FROM EVERYWHERE.
OUTLOOK is DARK
Baseball Threatened as Never
Before by New Regulations.
Amy Sacrifice, However, Will Be
Made Cheerfully.

That baseball is facing the most
critical period of it's history and that
it is in danger of ruin as a result OF
General Crowder's work or fight" or
ested in the game. Magnates, sport
writer's and fans agree that if the or
der is put into effect July 1 without
notifications and if it is ruled that all
professional baseball players are nom
essential, practically every club IN eV-
cry league will have to disband.
The Western league, it appears, VIII
be hit as hard as any league in the
country and the Topeka team will be
completely wrecked. In an announce
ment given out at Des Moines, Man
ager Nee stated that every member of
his club will be forced to give up the
game. All are registered except
Catcher Manion and he will register
with the men who have become II
since the first registration.
All Others Hard Hit.
Practically every other club in the
league will suffer. Ten of the four
teen men on the Wichita team Will
have to go to the harvest field or hog
yards and Omaha will lose every play
err except Manager Jackson. Joplin
and Hutchinson also will be hit hard
and Des Moines will have only one or
two players left. Sioux City will suf-
fer less than any other club as Ducky
Holmes has the only grandpa" club
in the league.
One way the leagues might con-
tinue to ''get by would be by making
raid on all the homes for the aged,
but if they should do this interest I'M
doubtedly would drop off and the
gates probably would be closed by the
sheriff if this plan should be adopted.
The one hope the magnates have is
that when a specific case comes up
for a hearing General Crowder will
show some leniency. But if he does
not. there is no doubt but that the club
owners and the players will cheerfully
make the sacrifice and make the best
they can of The sacrifice.
Baseball Loyal, Always.
Since the United States entered the
war no line of industry or organiza-
ton has shown more patriotism than
baseball. No line of industry has
given as many men in proportion TO
the number employed and no employ
ers have shown more willingness TO
help. Clark Griffith, one of the big
men of baseball, was not long in see
ing the need of amusement for the
soldiers in France and thru his eff
forts thousands of dollars have been
raised to send baseball equipment to
the men overseas.
Every&ciubr owner has urged his
men to disregard their teams future
and do what they thought best about
enlisting and as result stars like
Hank Gowdy and Jim Scott and a
multitude of others gave up good jobs
and volunteered early in the game.
Later men like Alexander have cheer
fully given up jobs that paid them
thousands of dollars a year and have
gone into service without a murmur.
And even the club owners who paid
$4,000 for Alexander did not let out
whimper when they had to give
him to their country after he had
pitched only three games for them.
Therefore, it is to be expected that
baseball men will lay their case be-
fore General Crowder in a straight
forward manner and will ask him to
give their industry careful considera-
ton. Then, no matter what his de-
cision may be. they will be found do
ing his bidding and doing their bit.
cheerfully, LOYALTY, periodically, and
making sa crifices like the good sports
the majority of baseball men have al
ways proven themselves to be.