The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-02
IN 1917
Athletic EndeavOrs Held Their
Own Despite the War.
Events Well PatrOniZed Thru
out the Whole Year.

New York, Jan. 2.-The year of
1917 was a year of uncertainties in
the world of sports.
Early in the year, until the United
States entered the war on the side or
the allies in April, the outlook for "a
banner twelvemonth in all branches
of sport was brilliant But the joining
of hands between Uncle Sam and the
allies brought about panicky condi-
ton, and those in control of the varl-
Gus branches of organized sports faced
the remainder of the year with a feel
ing of doubt regarding the effects of
our entry into the world conflict.
The calling off of championship
competition in golf and tennis circles
came as result of the war. The can
ceiling of intercollegiate schedules by
many of the colleges had a depress
ing effect, and, in all, nearly every
branch of sport, amateur or profess
SiOnal, fell the restraining tension of
war times.
The declaration that state of war
existed with Germany came with the
dawning of the professional baseball
season. But professional baseball had
prepared for its season as usual, and
with the exception of a number of
the smaller minor leagues, which were
forced to close their gates because of
poor patronage, baseball did remark
ably well.
Confidence Restored.
AS the year wore on into autumn
feeling of confidence began to return
in many quarters. There were many
dire predictions made, it is true, but
the more ievel-headed men in sports
saw no need for undue excitement,
even with the country Straining its
every resource in preparing to play
it's part lover there" during the year
that is soon to come.
The windup of the major league
pennant races, not to mention the
races in many smaller leagues; the
| playing of intercollegiate football by
nearly every college in the country
with the exception of Yale. Harvard
and Princeton, and last, but by no
| means least, the plans of the major
leagues to go ahead as usual next sea-
son, coupled with the restoration of
championships by the United States
| National Lawn Tennis association. and
| indications that other sport bodies will
/ return to their usual championship
schedules, shows that the feeling of
panic is wearing off and sports in all
branches will endeavor to continue as
| best they can.
In short the United States. the very
heart of the sporting world, is deter
mined to stick to its -blooded pas
times and will cling to them as long as
it possibly can.
Highlights of Year.
review in the major sports. one by
| one, shows many events of interest
To enumerate all sports, showing the
| fortunes of title holders, is scarcely
permissible in these Space-saving
| times but the high lights of the year
are well worth mentioning and, despite
| the war, 1917 has been a year of in
teresting happenings in sports.
The major league races this year
were highly interesting. In the Amer
lean league the fight for the pennant
| was a battle to the finish between Bos-
ton and Chicago. and the return of the
| American league championship to the
| west was a boon to baseball. In the
| National league the New York Giants
had more or less of a walkaway yet
the rise of two western clubs-the
! Reds and Cardinals-and the persis-
tency with which the Phillies chung to
| McGraw's trail kept up the interest
Boxing Remained Popular.
Boxing was effected but little by the
| war this year.
Hundreds of bouts were staged in al
states in the Union where boxing is
permitted and the year saw foul
championships won by newcomers.
The championships that changed
hands during the year were as fol
lows, three of the four bouts being
decided in this country:
March-Jimmy Wilde won the
worlds flyweight title in London from
George Clark.
May-Benny Leonard won the
worlds lightweight title from Fred