Evening star., 1943-03-07
Mats 10 Have BACKING
OF Board Of Trade
During Season
Body Using Werber Plan
Will Have Civic GROUPS
Sponsor Days at Park

Figuring baseball must be even
better sport than most Americans
realized If the Japs dropped 1t, tho
Washington Board Of Trade yester-
day placed the weight Of its in-
fuence. enthusiasm and organiza.
ton behind the washington, Base
ball Club in an effort to make the
Nations Capital baseball,s capital
during what promises to be 4 mo-
mentous 1943 season.
Plans for giving the game badly
needed shot in the arm were dis
cussed yesterday at meeting be-
tween board oficials, including
President L. p. McLachlen, Harry
Merrick, chairman Of the Member.
ship Committee, and Bill Werber.
former member OF the world cham.
pdon Cincinnati Reds, and President
Clark Grifath, Secretary Eddie
Eyn0n, Cal GrifYith and Manager
Ossie Bluege Of the Mats.
Briefly, the master plan calls for
turning over pre-game programs at
certain games to various local civic
organizations In an effort to whip
up q frOth Of hometown enthusiasm
and support for the team. Original
ideas and stunts will be encouraged
and the Board Of Trade will award
q suitable trophy to the one scoring
the biggest hit with the fans.
Plan Comes from Werber.
The Board Of Trade will get the
ball rolling at q luncheon for IN
omcials and players Of the wash
ington club Wednesday, April II.
The bell for the municipal free-for.
all win ring soon after.
Werber, a prosperous insurance
man who IS quitting baseball for
keeps this season to devote al Of
his time to business, is the tlastaaa.
tor Of the movement. A similar
plan has been tried successfully
in Cincinntai. and the 1aimble footed
infielder argues that Washington
organizations will make IN even
bigger thing Of it.
Baseball has received too much
negative publicity In this war;" he
said, "and it's high time something
was done about it. We are not seek
ing deferment Of baseball players IN
the draft or asking special privileges
for the game. We simply feel that
baseball Is too much part Of the
American way to be shunted aMdo
at the first crack Of rifle.
Il haven't heard or read anything
about theaters or movies closing
because Of the war. In the last
four years, the World Series Is
about the only event to drive the
war OF the front pages. for when
the National and American League
winners battle 1t out, almost 90
100000 Americans play bali. They
don't play II physically. but they
listen to It over, the radio and they
read it day and night"
Scheme Pleases Grimth.
The moral and material support
offered by the Beard Of Trade WAS
received with open arms and 8
broad grin by. Grimth, who pointed
out that neither the board nor arr
individual member stood to reap,
any PERSONAL gain from the idea.
McLachlen and Merrick said the
board was motivated purely by civic
pride and desire to keep the game
alive for its entertainment value
during trying times ahead.
Final details Of the plan will be
worked out later at conferences be-
tween the two groups, but Grihith
hopes mcst Of the attractions spon-.
sored by neighborhood business.
men will be scheduled In the eve.
ming.
i've put in an application for ali
night games," he said, "but don't
know what they'll give me. II I.
had my way, they'd all be night
games"