The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-27
DIAMOND STARS
GETTING INTO
BIG WAR GAME
Club Machine Will do It's Bit in
Fighting Line or Munitions
Plants.
GEOFGE TYLER DONE FOR

Chicago, Sept 27.-Turning their
backs upon baseball until the German
legions shall have been driven back
across the Rhine, members OF the Cub
machine, who won the National league
championship, but could not garner
the world title. have scattered far and
wide. complying with the order OF the
provost marshal general either TO
work or fight.
Chicago fans, deprived of their ia
vorite sport. watched the departure OF
their favorites with feeling OF gloom.
1t was apparent that number among
the vanishing stars never again would
seintillate in the sporting armament
and that henceforward they will be
merely names, vaguely remembered by
tickle public which easily forgets.
Among the men who in normal
times could be counted on for several
seasons more of baseball on the big
time" but who under present condi-
tons probably will never don the
uniform again, Fred Merkle stands
pre-eminent. The last out in the game
at Boston on September II sounded
taps" on Merkle's baseball career,
one of the most stormy and the most
interesting in the games history. The
Chicago first-sacker himself admits
he is "all through" He has gone back
to his farm and will devote the re-
mainder of his life to agriculture, with
an occasional ball game from the
bleachers for relaxation, he says.
Merhle announced his retirement in
this statement:
Il am mighty glad that I never
reached the point where l began to
slip back toward the minors. l often
wondered what I would do when
reached that point. but instead of
my quitting the old game the game
has quit me, and I'm able to retire
with some measure of honor at the
close of one of the most successful
seasons l ever had.
II am glad to quit, too, and go back
to the farm. I've been on the big time
for long while and for the last few
seasons I've missed some of the old
pep. Every spring it has been a little
more difficult for me to get into con-
dition, and the time would have come
soon when l would have found my
self sitting on the bench waiting for
chance to bat in pinch while some
fresh yOungster showed me up on
first. Then would have come the re-
lease, and afte rthat the minors. I'm
glad I'm through"
George Tyler, the pitcher, probably
has gone forever. Local fans do not
believe the old timers can come back
after a lay-off that promises toslast
several years.
Bill Killifer will continue to throw
baseballs when he is not throwing
hand grenades in the army, as will
other old timer who probably will
also Charley Hollocher, Bob O'Farrell
and Bill McCabe. Rollie Zeider, an
never play big league ball again, has
retired to his farm.
Flack will work as a surveyor for
railroad construction company near
his home at Belleville, ILL.,; Turner
Barber is hesitating between job in
a munitions plant with chance to
play ball on the side and season as
understudy to some farmer.
Phil Douglas is booked for job
in the Alabama Power company of
Birmingham; Workman has a job with
a Baltimore dry dock company; Nick
Carter will pitch for the Virginia Du-
pont company team and do little
very little-wOrk in the mill fbe-
tween games. Charley Deal has been
signed by the Breckenridge Allegheny
Steel company. Charley Pick will go
to work in a San Francisco shipyards
as soon as he can reach the Pacific
Coast.
Claude Hendrix and Hippo" Vaughn
have announced they probably will re-
main in Chicago and seek wartime
jobs. Hippo expects to stage come
back in baseball when the war is
over, but Hendrix, with long years
of faithful service with the big show
behind him, is not SO confident
Manager Mitchell of the Cubs is try
ing to break into the army via the
quartermaster's department., but may
emulate the example of his fellow
Clarence Rowland, of the
White Sox. and seek civilian employ
ment. Rowland recently took a posi-
ton with local sporting goods firm
as superintendent of manufa cture.