The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-23

THE GOVERNMENT, national and municipal, is throwing the kids of America 8 curvel
 Don't get me wrong. The old Babe hasn't fallen for one of those phony isnS. I like my United States the way they started 1t. The guys who wrote the Constitution were no bushers. They won a pen pant their first time out and this country has been in first place ever Eince. That class, no morning glory record. The kind that knocked off the Nazis with their hidden ball tricks and likewise sky-hiked the Japs to their ancestors.
 With Eisenhower, Halsey and Macarthur hitting in the cleanup spots, the World Series is a cinch. That's why you and I are proud cf our 48 States setup. Three hun- tired plus hitters from top to bot tom supported by double play combo, sound catching and fast out field that knows how to handle sneak attacks. I'm no military ex- pert but in war, as in baseball, you must be strong down the mid- de.
 What has all this got to do with the Government taking a potshot, perhaps innocently, at the kids? Simply this: It has completely for gotten theah. Sure, know there is war going on. I also know that in such a war as the present one, g. nation must go all out to win 1t. But maintain it's possible to shoot the works at the enemy without forcing the kids to remain san the benches on too few play grounds. .
 Yep, know the diamonds are still there and nobody is bothering the kids. That's the trouble. No one is bothered over the fact that they are playing with broom sticks and balls made out of synthetic Something. This is the situation m New York and, no doubt, the same in other cities. It's both de- pressing and alarming. Not only tc the future of baseball and other sports, but more important the moral and physical welfare of our future citizens.
 EAWDUST FILLED BASEBALLS
 I know materials that ordinarily go into the making of sports atllle- tsc equipment is necessary for guns, ships, planes. etc. I say they still can be made without let up and take heat off the kids. It's up to the law makers. How? Simply by freezing the many so-called "es- sentials." It seems to me that some 6f the manufacturers continue to make useless gadgets for the grown ID who understand" Personally, ] would sacrifice my shoes if I thought 1t meant the elimination of sawdust now stuffing what is now called a baseball.
 If it's one thing I know, it's the makeup of the average kid. I'v bud- died with thousands of 'em from coast to coast, but let's keep home runs out of the column. Their language is playing games with sQuipment made out of durable stuff. With such baSeballS, gloves and bladders unavailable, he gradu- ally drifts to the corners where he figures it's more interesting. Have you noticed the rise in juvenile oelinuuency lately?
 Right now, the only playable base balls, good for an inning or more, are being manufactured for the pro- fessionals. I suppose that Organized Baseball is doing the best it can. All Balls fouled into the stands are donated to members of the armed forces. I endorse that idea. Certainly the soldiers and sailors need recreation. But that brings me right back to where statred: What about the kids?
 KIDS, COME TO THE
 AID or BASEBALL!
 What about the kids and future. of baseball? The kids, mind you, are the life blood of the game. And ik the game doesn't come to the aid of the kids. baseball will strangle Itself with it's own hands. Today, major league competition is a Glass p standard. The majority of play CTS who return from the service will be passe.
 Comebacks for them is a rough Assignment. The gap is big. Hank Greenberg is gamely trying to beat the rap and you can see from his batting average the going is tough
 almost too tough. But gritty ser- vice guys like Hank should make it.
 Night play, which I tagged as an cl1t-and-out nlockery of baseball in this same space last year, just about xtbs out the kid for keeps. Sen- Sible parents will put him to bed where he belongs but won't im- prove his baseball education. Mean while the owners are favoring fat &<r schedules under the arcs, which E2s0 makes CENTS. Occasional EAmes under the lights, say between 4 and IA per season, is okay for the sake of novelty. If the owners play every night except Sunday how are they going to replenish when the present crop of Class Us run out?
 CAN BE WITH THE KIDS
 The reason I grabbed a chance <c manage the Eastern teams in the Esquire all-American boys game is because I will be able to be with tnem for week-seven days with M gang of kids. plan to cram <n as much teaching as can. You'd tC surprised how little some of them Euow about inside baseball. For ex- ample. At a baseball school in Florida some Springs ago I thought ! had discovered another second b1seman on the order of Charley Eehringer. That Is, did until realized he didn't know he was imposed to cover second base.
 The better ball players. equip- 1eent permitting. will continue to come from those cities in the South. Southwest and West where there is 0Iaying room. GO ahead. name the tiE icaguers of the past 10 years &4+.& uzana s4rNflstaaA fsa Nlaa l.l00ar