Detroit evening times., 1945-01-20
Wings Win, 7-3, at 1855 Am. Today
AT Problem
Ze||er

.AHuSGL LGHGI
BY LEO MACDONELL
While bascballs problems are
anything but funny Jack Zeller,
the Tiger general manager, admits
being amused. if not perplexed. at
the suggestions that 4-Fs now
playing baseball might well be
carrying a gun when most Of
big leaguerS already in service
are StiIl playing baseball through
no fault Of their own.
There are some $50 big
leaguerS classified as az"
Zeller pointed out whereas,
am pretty sure, there are as
many or more than that num-
her Of athletes playing baseball,
football or engaged i'm boxing In
the fields. camps and stations.
"ManN of these soldiers and
sailors have no desire TO play
baseball or football. they tell
me. They would sooner be
carrying a gun or flying, but
they must do what they are or
dered 10 do. And AZ can't
60 into service when they won't
take him"
OPTIMISTIC VIEW
Zeller is quite optimistic, how
ever, over the baseball situation.
ut will all be Strengthened
out" the Tiger chief explained.
I'VE are now gathering infor-
nation for the manpower com
mission with regard To the
status OF our players"
Along these lines, Zeller has
sent 10 all Tigers a letter re-
complete details sur
rounding the Selective service
status of each player.
The letter:
we have been requested to
secure fromAall players on our
roster full and detailed in
formation regarding their status
under the Selective Service Act.
Our league president will see
that such information is brought
Go the attention OF the War
ManpOwer Commission aS re-
quested.
ASK WARNING
"BasebaIPs representative. in
talking To one of the top men
in Washington assured him the
major leagues are perfectly
willing 10 close their gates IL
there il even suspicion. we
are interfering with the WAR
effort. hut II is desired the gov
ernment make such request
within the next few weeks and
not choke us of after we have
opened our season.
There II said 90 be no short
age Of manpOwer except I'm
heavy industries. such as fOun-
dries, and probably in skilled
mechanics. hut there is short
age of man-hours In many fac
tories as they are Over-manned
and are not allowed TO work as
hard or as long as they would
like.
'If YOU have done your part
registered with your draft
board, notified them OF any
change of address, reported for
examination when advised--and
have not been inducted at this
time, you have a right TO follow
your profession as a baseball
player a. il was ruled last year
that such occupation was ian
activity In the national health
and interest" and draft boards
freely granted deferments under
this ruling.
SEEKS DETAILS
Write me i'm detail about
your case; whether you have
been classified in IA, "a, 2-B
or Az. IL the latter, give the
reason as stated by the eX-
amining physician and whether
or not you were told TO report
back at n later date. There are
over S,80O,0OO men in the latter
classification and the L. =. Sur
geOn General has stated not
over ; per cent would be ac-
ceptable for combat service IL
all were rc-eNamined. There
are about 260 i'm both major
leagues.
There II tremendous i'm
terest i'm our games among the
armed forces. Steve O'Neill re-
ports the soldiers i'm the South
Pacific knew the details of our
important gaines of last wear
and asked thousand questions.
We feel this interest is well
known i'm Washington and no
top official will ask us to dis
continue operations, but IL will
help II we can give them full
Information about each and
every player; therefore, sit
down right now and let me