Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-03
BASE BALL IN 1919
/: NOW SEEMS SURE
Approach of Peace Makes
+! Campaign CertairHWar
{ Work Drive Not Halted.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

r BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
That there will be base ball next
season-major league ball-now seems
assured. With her allies crumbllns
through military reverses and IN
ternal disorders Germany today finds
herself practically unsupported in her
battle to stem the tide of world free
. dom and her downfall is question
of but a few months-possibly weeks.
With peace in the offing the national
sport is beginning to bestir itself.
Leaders of the pastime. generally re-
garded as adjourned for the duration
of the war, are perking up. The an
nual meetings of the big leagues will
be held next month. when the work
of drafting schedules will be under
taken, and soon reports of player deals,
spring training plans and prospects
for the pennant races will appear in
sporting columns lately given over to
notices of foot ball games Cancelled
because of influenza regulations.
In some quarters hope never has
been abandoned that the majors
would be operated in some fashion
next year regardless of the war situa-
ton. 1t has been contended that it
would be suicidal for the magnates
to keep their gates closed; that to
cease play entirely would undermine
the game indefinitely and cause
patrons of the sport to be 1ured to
other forms of recreation and amuse-
ment.
No Long Lay-of Needed.
President johnson of the American
League has been quoted as strongly
favoring a complete shutdown during
1919. even though hostilitieS are end
ed in the coming winter, on the
theory that a cessation of activities
: is needed for the readjustment of the
game and the institution of reforms
thorough housekeeping in base ball
is admitted on all sides and it is
bound to come. but it Is not necessary
to close up shop for an entire sea-
son to effect it. If. as seems un-
questionable, all strife overseas shall
have ceased when the time arrives
for the annual invasion of the south
there is absolutely no doubt that both
major leagues will be in the field
again next season.
But 1t is not expected by even the
most optimistic that the quality of
play will be on par with that ex-
hibited in the last few years. With so
many of the stars of the game in
the military and naval service and
engaged in producing essential war
equipment it is too much to antici-
pate that base ball can come back to
its old-time standard as early as 1919.
Should the war end overnight it is
unlikely any of the players wearing
the blue or khaki would be released
in time to resume diamond activities
next season. and it is doubtful wheth-
er those employed in the shipbuilding
industry could be spared for some
months. Uncle Sans needs for ships
and supplies will continue long after
all fighting has been stopped Plenty
of talent will be available, however
The Cobbs and Speakers will be miss
ed, but the fans will bear with the
game until the old favorites are re-
turned or new ones developed.
Planning of Players Unjustifed.
Speculation regarding the attitude
of the fans toward those of the play
ers who entered into productive en-
ployment instead of shouldering
gun is unnecessary. Some few there
were who apparently ducked into the
shipyards to escape military duty, but
their cases are the exception. not the
rule. A very great majority of the
athletes who undertook essential en-
ployment were as much entitled to eX-
emption as those with families in any
other line of endeavor. They were ad-
vised and urged by the government
to pursue that course which would
best provide for their dependents.
Ball players, as 4 class. are not
slackers and the many should not be
censured for the errors of the few.
Figures show that practically so per
cent of all professional players who
wore diamond toys at the outbreak
of the war now are in some branch
Of the government war service. There
are few other callings that can show
as high a ratio.
No sympathy will be wasted on
slackers. but the base ball fan is fair
and can be depended upon not to
harshly criticise the athletes VINO pur-
sued the same course as the patrons
of the game who had the welfare of
others than themselves to look out
for.