New-York tribune., 1918-11-01
Baseball Si1;S Itself for
After War AcHvities

With the first harbingers of pro-
spective world pe Nce professional base
ball stirs itself. There has been an
undercurrent Of hope in certain quar-
ters of botN major leagues, ever since
Secretary Of War Bakers ruling cut
shorv the 1918 campaign a month be-
fl e the scheduled close, that it would
be folly not % operate in some fashion
in 1919.
Those who held this opinion declare
that to cease operations entirely would
mean the undermining of the game in
definitely. They held that the ellen
tele of the national pastime would be
attracted to other sports. amusements
and recreations; in a word, that the
patrons Of the steel and concrete
edifices would forget their first love.
Opinion on the point seemed clearly
divided. The majority of the American
League, headed by Ban Johnson, was
set upon complete shutdown until
the end of the war. A certain eleme Mt
Of the National League and few own
ers of the American League as wei
were hopeful that their parks might
professional baseball entailing Satur-
day and Sunday games. This plan was
frowned upon by johnson, by, c. A
Comiskey and other prominent Ameri-
can League club owners, Jim Dunn, Of
Cleveland, included.
Within the last several weeks each
succeeding day apparently has has
tened that erstwile remote day OF
peace and good will. 1t is not beyonc
per cent of the total to be raised BY
the realm of possibility or probability
that long before the time for spring
training arrives hostilities in Europe
is no guarantee that baseball can come
back to its old-time standard as early
as 1919.
Many Of the greatest stars Of th'
game are in olive drab in France or il
the naval service. Another great mum
ber are engaged in the shipbuildint
industry. But in any event it is no
! likely that Uncle Sam will relax hi
vigilance until satisfactory guarantee
have been given by the enemy. And i
will take some time for such an ar
rangement. If the war were to ent
/ tomorrow, it is doubtful Of any Of tn
available for major league play mex
April. Favoritism is word not tol
Grated in military or naval circles.
However, if the war should end thi
year there iy no doubt that both maj O.
leagues would be in the field mex
spring. But it is question that vel
may await the present delicate issue
Even as late as the customary sched
ule meetings next February it will b.
time to decide the fate of baseball
for 1919. There seems no occasion
for the furry of expectancy on th
part of promoters at this particula
time.
Many Of the big league club presi
dents, while hoping for the best, ar
anticipating the worst, as witnes
Harry n. Hampstead, of the Giants
Mr. Hampstead has submitted a schem
to make Of the useless under part o
the Brush Stadium at. the Polo Ground
a vast storage house to make goo
the overhead during the time the fell
remains idle. This new business vent
ure will doubtless be carried out ever
for it has worked we'll at Fenway Park
Shibe Park and other parks of othe
cities.
Meanwhile, signs point to genera
retrenchment in baseball promotion
after the war. AS in New York, tn
Boston clubs will share one fiel,
Braves Field in the Hub in future
by sharing the same grounds they will
split the expense and rid the Brave
Of a commodious plant that has beel
"white elephant" so far. James +
GaHney, who owns the National Leagu
franchise in Boston. it is reported, will
soon sell this stock to n syndicate Q
Bostonians, headed by former Mayo
Curley.
George Schmidt, the genial host o
Forty second Street, near Broadway
has joined in the hunt for the Kaiser
scalp. The proprietor Of the Kai ef
Keller left yesterday afternoon TO
Fort Slocum 20 go into intensive train
ing for.the march to Berlin Schmid
dy who is the bell-cow rooter of bot
the Giants and Yankees. Joined tn
hunt voluntarily, as he is too old t
appeal to any draft board, but he ex
poets to get rid Ct his bay window i
time to Join Colonel Til Huston some