Evening star., 1945-01-28
Election Of Gar
To Be Deferred,
Nat Boss Feels
Myott Signs, but Army
Takes Yost;; Leonard
Tells of USO Tour
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

Clark Griffith signed player yes
terday for his Mats, but learned he
had lost another as he began prep
aration of plans for a busy week
that will take him to New York for
major league baseball's all-im-
portant meetings.
Fourteenth of the Mats to get in
line for the 1945 campaign is George
Myatt, 4-F who did most of the
second basing for his club last year,
but also managed to take turns at
shortstop and in the outfield. Gone
from the Mats for the duration Of
the war is Eddie Yost, young semi
pro picked up last season for an in
field trial. Yost was indicted into
the Army last Friday, he notified the
Washington club president.
AS to his plans for participation
in the meeting of the American
League in New York next Friday
and the joint session of the majors
the following day, Griffith has little
to say other than they will keep him
extremely busy the next six days.
However, he'll relax next Sunday
night by attending the annual base
ball party given by the New York
baseball writer's.
New Gar Now Unlikely.
The Washington boss Of course
will be active in the discussions con-
cerning the new baseball agreement
by the majors at the New York ses-
sions. The report of the joint COM
mittee will be considered by both big
loops in separate meetings Friday,
then mulled over again in joint ses-
sion Saturday.
Griffith, while not a member Of
the committee chosen to submit
new plan for government of the
national pastime, is known to have
several ideas he would like incorpo-
rated in the agreement and his ideas
always command a great deal of re-
spect in baseball.
He does not believe the majors will
select successor to the late Com
missioner Kenesaw M. Lands this
week, despite that several prominent
in baseball affairs are known to be
seeking an early appointment. Since
the game, after Lands death,
adopted temporary government by
commission, the Washington leader
has held that the naming of ne9
boss should be deferred until the
war is over.
A plan to keep baseball going,
despite war manpower demands that
threaten to cut deeply into player
ranks, may get Griffith's support. A
semi-essential classification for the
professional game may be one of the
plans discussed, according to the
Associated Press. 1t would provide
that ballplayers follow their profess
sion during the championship sea-
son, then take over war jobs for
which they are best suited during
the off season.
Baseball's War Record Fine.
| Baseballs war record would seem
to make the game deserving of some
consideration by those in control of
manpower. Associated Press figures
show it has played 800 games for
entertainment of men in training
camps, admitted free to league
games 4,500 900 men in uniform, con-
tributed heavily to war funds and
| USO projects and has won public
appreciation from ODT for carefully
following requests to reduce travel.
Baseball also deserves acclaim for
its high percentage of men In uni
form. OF $500 players in the game
at the time of the Pearl Harbor dis
aster, 5,400 now are in the services.
That men on war fronts want
baseball continued this year was told
Griffith In a letter received from
Dutch Leonard, veteran Nat pitcher
recently returned from tour of the
Western European front with a USO
entertainment troupe. "We gave a
lot of shows and saw a few hundred
thousand troops. After each
show we would ask the troops If they
wanted baseball to &C on or close up.
BY more than 100 to l they
wanted baseball to continue by all
means" Dutch wrote.
''They know their ball teams and
argue about their favorite players.
They really want sports" he added.
Leonard Ducked Buzz Bombs.
Leonard wrote that he met many
servicemen from Washington dur
ing the trip into France, Belgium,
Holland and over the borders into
Germany. He was on that part of
the front thrust back by the Ger
| (See KELLER, Page A-17.)