The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-18
ALL TEAMS STAND
TO LOSE PLAYERS
Most Officials Say They'll
Take Any Loss; Greenberg
And Feller In Call Class
BY JUDSON BAILEY

ball is going to take its draft med
icine without shudder, but the
major league magnates are keep
ing their fingers crossed and their
ears to the ground nonetheless.
Bob Quinn, president of the Bos-
ton Bees, summed up the attitude
of most of the club owners in a
survey made by the Associated
Press:
II have been in the game over
so years, during the Spanish and a
few other wars. This is an Ameri-
can game and it never tried to
hide. Baseball will be right there
as always and do whatever Ameri-
ca wants it to do.''
There are approximately 500
players in the major leagues and
some of these are almost certain
to be summoned to service. How
ever, a majority of them are mar
ried, or have other dependents, so
that on any one club no more than
half dozen are likely to fall into
class one of the draft, subject to
immediate call.
Planning Ahead
This factor undoubtedly contri-
butes to the tranquility of most of
the magnates in their decision to
60 right ahead with their plans as
though nothing threatened to take
away their stars. =,
Warren Giles, general manager
of Cincinnati's World Champions,
expressed common view:
Baseball wants to do it's part.
We're not going to ask exemptions
and if some favorite is drafted
he'll 60 just as quickly as the
bat boy. 1t probably will strike
around about evenly. If we should
lose Paul Derringer or Bucky Wal
ters (both are married and have
childen, ed maybe our nearest
competitor will lose somebody they
need just as badly"
Clark Griffith, president of the
Washington Senators and iaison
man between baseball and the gov
ernment during the World war,
said:
I'VE are all studying the situa-
ton very carefully and may have
some suggestions later. Right now
national defense is the main issue.
It's the government business and
we aren't butting in"
Effect On Minors
One of the concerns of some big
league clubs was the effect of the
draft on minor league ball players
of talent. A larger percentage of
these are likely to be called up
because they are younger and have
fewer dependents.
Griffith, for instance, voiced the
opinion that ''the draft is bound
to cut prices on young minor
leaguers."
The Brooklyn Dodgers are known
to have Investigated a couple of
prospective purchases to find
whether the players would be SUBJ
ject to immediate training.
However, all of the clubs said
they were going ahead with their
deals for newcomers. AS for the
effect on the minor leagues them
selves, William G.. Bramham,
president of the National Associa-
tion of Professional Baseball
leagues, asserted:
1.-THE minor league clubs are
made up of players from all Sec
tions of the country and this les
sens the chance of any one club be-
ing stripped of many players
through the draft. I do not be-
lieve the minor leagues will be
seriously jeopardized. They will
carry on as usual, doing their part
in the defense program and asking
no special privileges"
Most of the club owners said they
thought interest in baseball, and
attendance, would hold up well.
Tom Yawkey, president of the Bos-
ton Red Sox, said:
"People need relaxation and in
time of stress are likely to turn to
sports to let off steam. From this
standpoint I think without being
selfish it is fair to say that base
ball will still have a place in pub
lie favor
Harry Grabiner, vice-president
of the Chicago White Sox, pointed
out that during the last war base
ball was considered useful oc-
cupation,'' and added, latter all
the draftees are not leaving the
country and we have to have some
sports for the amusement OF the
public =,
Grabiner continued, baseball
will do it's bit. The White Sox are
for conscription 100 per cent and
will cooperate 100 per cent. AS for
dealers for minor leaguers, the
teams will just have to take that
chance"
John Rigney, Taft Wright and
Skeeter Webb of the Sox regulars
are single and within draft age.
Yawkey recalled 'offhand'' that
D:NFo T@I