Evening star., 1944-12-25
WON n'tAHecf Baseball,
Declares Griffith;
All Cooperate
BY TED MEIER,
Associated Press Sports Writer


Professional sports leaders today
generally were optimistic that major
league baseball, boxing, hockey
golf and football would continue in
1945 although all agreed they would
back the Government 100 per cent
In all measures, however drastic,
necessary to win the war.
After a day of opportunity to as
sess and interpret the double direc-
tive by War Mobilization Director
James F. Byrnes ordering all horse
and dog tracks to close by January
3 and requesting draft boards to re-
examine the classification of all
pro athletes, spokesmen for the va
rious sports asserted they would op-
crate as long as any men were left,
but the first consideration was to
win the war.
Affected Immediately were some
236 AIS in the American and Ma
tional Baseball Leagues, but as
Clark Griffith, president of the
Washington Senators, who saw the
sport through the first World War
said, "It won't make any difference.
We have been operating without
asking any favors from the draft
boards and still will have enough
players left to play ball"
Harridge Withholds Comment.
Mr.. Byrnes ordered racing to shut
down to prevent the use of critical
materials, services and transporta-
tion." In letter to Lewis B. Her.
shey, selective service director, he
said "it is difficult for me to under
stand how = large number of
men between Is and 26 are engaged
in professional athletics of all types
$50 at this critical period when we
are exerting every effort to direct
manpower into critical war indus
tries They prove to thousands
by their great physical feats upon
the football or baseball field that
they are physically fit and as
able to perform military service as
are the 1000 900 men in uniform. -
President Will Harridge of the
American League withheld comment
Il would rather not make any COM
ment until we see how far this will
CO." he said. ''It has come out of
a clear sky"
The st. Louis Browns, who won
the American League pennant this
year, are affected directly by Byrnes'
ruling. Bill Dewitt, a club official,
listed eight Brown pitchers as 4-F,
two discharged, one in IA, and four
in Ia. Three catcher are 4-Fs as
well as six inflelders, and three out
fielders. Shortstop Vern Stephens
and First Baseman George McQuinn
are outstanding 4-F Browns.
Cards Have IA 4-Fs.
The world championship st. Louis
Cardinals list IA as 4-Fs among the
81 players left from the 1914 cam
paign, including star Third Base
man Whitley Kurowski, Pitcher Mort
Cooper, Harry Brecheen, Ted Wilks
and Outflelders Johnny Hopp and
Danny Litwhiler.
Other major leage clubs also have
many 4-Fs. The Yankees have IL,
Detroit Tigers II, Cleveland 81, Ath-
letics Is, White Sox 12, Red Sox 10
End the Senators IL.
Lou Boudreau, Cleveland man
ager and American League batting
champion, Is 4-F, with Pitchers Hal
and Dizzy Trout, who,
between them, almost won the pen
nant for the Tigers, and Detroit
slugger Rudy York.
In the National circuit the Giants
have 81 4-Fs, including Star Pitcher
Bill Voiselle. The Chicago Cubs
said they had "about 10 active play
ers" classified 4-F.
The Detroit pro grid Lions, who
tied the Bears for second place in
the Western Division of the National
League, have 18 4-Fs and five medi-
cal discharges.
Officials of National and American
League hockey teams did not ex-
pect hockey to be affected since
most of the players are Canadians
DlayinP in the States or, ,,a,-,,oite