Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-24
Florida Booster
Gracious Over
Loss Of Clubs
Win War Is Big Thing.
Suys Sunshine Long;
Frick Optimistic
BY the Associated Press.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Dec. "a.
Florida is going to miss having the
major league baseball clubs down
next spring but it's worth the dis
appointment II 1t helps win the war,
Sunshine" AL Lang, the States
ambassador Of baseball, said today.
The former Mayor Of st. Peters,
burg, who made his enthusiasm as
q baseball fan pay dividends for
the whole State, directly or indi-
.rectly was responsible for bringing
q dozen big league teams to Florida
for training last spring.
Big welcomes had been planned
for the world champion st. Louis
Cardinals and the New York YAM
KEGS, who have prepped here in re-
cent years. Today the training
grounds of the Cards and Yanks are
being used as drill fields for Uncle
Sans soldiers.
The two top flight teams Of 1912
have joined the exodus Of major
leaguers away from the warmer
chimes Of Florida and California,
and, with others. are shopping for
sites farther North. Training camp
changes followed a suggestion by
Joseph B. Eastman, director of the
ONCE Of Defense Transportation,
that baseball clubs should reduce
travel as much as possible.
Graciously Give Up Teams.
"If 1t will help win the war we
graciously can give up our teams, "
said the lean and wiry Lang, whose
energy bellies his 70-odd years.
We've got to get In there and pitch
against the Axis and you can bet
that baseball is ready to do its part.
I'VE know that we will win the
war and that baseball will come
back to Florida"
Meanwhile 1t appeared that the
Pittsburgh Pirates and the st. Louis
Browns would train next spring at
Hot Springs, Ark, If their manage
ments followed the recommends
tons Of Blake Harper Of st. Louis,
who surveyed facilities there for
them and the two Chicago major
league clubs.
The four teams trained in Cali
fornia last spring.
Harper, concessions manager at
Sportsman's Park, st. Louis, said
last night that only two Of four
fields In the Arkansas resort city
could be prepared adequately by
spring and that he was recommend
ing that the Chicago Cubs and
White Sox seek other spring quar-
tiers.
James T. Gallagher, general man
ager of the Cubs. said in Chicago
that his club was considering the
possibility of site in the Midwest.
The White Sox management plans
to locate a new camp near the Cub
base.
May Use Yale Cage.
The Brooklyn Dodgers, who gave
up plans to train at West Palm
Beach. Fla, may unlimber in Yale's
huge Coke Memorial baseball cage,
Harold F. Woodcock. the university's
A. A. business manager, said last
night. He related that he had dis
cussed the possibility with President
Branch Hickey of the Dodgers In
New York. The Army is not ex-
pected to use the cage when it takes
over Yale properties next month for
the armed forces college training
plan.
The Boston Braves will not train
at Sanford. Fla, and President Bob
Quinn mentioned some North Car
DINA city as a likely new site. Cen
eral Manager Eddie Collins of the
Boston Red Sox likewise announced
that the American League team
would not return to Sarasota, Fla,
and was considering a North or
South Carolina camp.
The Philadelphia Athletics have
given up the West Coast for Sa-
Ga, and the New York
Giants are quitting Miami for pos
sible North Carolina location.
Ford Prick, president of the Ma
tional League, said In New York he
didn't believe 1t would be necessary
to postpone the 1913 baseball OPEN
ing, set for April 10. because of the
limited training season.