Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-29
REVIVAL IN SPORTS
ASSUREDFOR 1878
Base Ball Will Set Pace in
Return to Pre-War Status
Following Lean Year.
EY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Sports. both amateur and profess
sional, probably never again Will eN-
perience as lean a year as in that
just drawing to 4 close. Due to the
war and conditions resulting from it..
activities in all branches either were
curtailed greatly or abandoned, and
The quality of the competition that
was afforded necessarily reflected IN
large measure the absence of the
small army of star performers requi-
sitioned for service with the colors.
i, Professional sports were particu-
larly hard hit as a result of the
entrance of this country into the big
row overseas yet fewer of the hX-
lures were entirely dispensed with
Ahan in the amateur field. Base ball
! afforded a striking evidence of its
Tirility by lasting until Labor day.
when the major league sessions ended
in consequence of 4 decision by Secre-
tary Baker that professional players
were subject to the operation of the
work or fight order.
Commendable War Record.
With more than so per cent of the
playing personnel having entered the
war service of Uncle Sam. members OF
the profession established most
Commenda ple record. Large numbers
Of the athletes donned the khaki or
blue before the season closed. and
others followed Immediately there
after.
Considering the losses suffered in
playing material. Manager Griffith lS
credited with having achieved a
gratifying feat in landing ms team
in third place. and with the instltu-
- TO-. h.,Il in he a, m
tai the season. financially was FAR
from being failure, despite the
great press of war work which pre-
Guided abundance at the games Oh
hundreds of regular patrons.
In view of the anxiety occasioned
by the participation of the flower of
Americas young manhood in the car
mage abroad the crowds that turned
out to see the Boston Americans de-
1eat the Chicago Nationals For the
world championship were noteworthy.
In the boxing world the outstanding
event of the year was the first-round
knockout administered by Jack Demp-
,Sey to Fred Fulton. Dempsey triumph
ed over a long list of lesser lights in
the course of the twelve months and
although he lost the decision in IL
short bout on the coast with Willie
Meehan, the Frisco Fat Boy. ms
friends claimed the heavyweight
championship for him through the
= failure of Jess Willard to meet him
Kieckhefer Cue Wizard.
In the domain of billiards Augie
Kieckhefer, through Il series of brill
liant performances placed himself in
the position of establishing new
world record by winning six cham
pion> hip matches i'll sIcces sion. After
winning the three-cushion title from
DE gro in February he successfully
defeeded it against CannefaX, Maui
uoIpc, McCourt and CannefaX again.
the Iast match taking place November
20. No other biliiardist ever has sue
Ceeded in Wianing more than five title
matches in a row. In his match with
NIcCourt the new champion set a new
world record by clicking off $50 points
in l. = inrinos
That the period for the re-eSta hlish-
ment of sports on Il better and broader
basis now is dawning there can be no
doubt. Actions of the governing bod
les in laying plans to re-enter the
field in their particular branch is
sure criterion. Already with the WIN
ter yet young it is noticeable that the
annual meetings, recently rather per-
functory affairs, have attracted keen
interest. and it is expected that those
branches which abolished titular
Syents OF otherwise restricted their
activities will pave the way for a re-
turn 10 pTS-WdT toHultioIS- ne eS-
rent to which this will be realized
during 1919 depends almost wholly
upon the rapidity with which the
armed forces of the United States are
temobiliZcd. There are bound to be
some abseutees in the ranks of star
performers in various lines of athletic
.ndeavor pending the definite eStab-
]ishment of peace, but sentiment
everywhere is that, as start has to
lie made some time. no better oppor-
tunity could be afforded than in the
year following the end of the world
conflict. 1t is hoped that what the
championships may lose in class will
be made up in increased numbers and
the resultant keener contests because
OF larger fields