Evening star., 1945-03-14
Game Loses No Time
Preparing 10 Dive
Into Big Season
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

Baseball more than ever Is ready
to plunge into its fourth wartime
championship campaign after the
second pat on its back in two sue
cessive days by President Roose-
velt. What the Chief Executive
didn't say to Clark Grifith as the
Mats boss made his annual pass
presentation trip to the White
House Monday, he did yesterday
when at his regular press confer
ence after being asked whether
baseball possibly could operate this
year, he said why not?"
The President had said that he is
all in favor Of baseball as long as it
does not require perfectly healthy
people who could be doing more
useful war work. Then the reporter
quickly asked the question that
turned on the greenest light base
ball has yet seen since the man.
power problem threatened its
existence.
OF course, there's still that legisla-
ton being mulled over by Congress
to consider, but with the President
heartily in favor of baseball-and
he's left no doubt as to his attitude
the way for the game looks clear
and it points to big season. The
Presidents wishes rarely are ignored.
Goes All Out for War Workers.
Baseballs reaction to the Presi-
dents remark as expressed by
Griffith indicates the organized
game will do all possible to give war
workers and the remainder of the
Nation the best entertainment pos
sible.
Wen take our chances on the
manpower problem" said Griffith.
What the President said shows
that baseball has done a good job
in the war effort and Wen scrape
up enough players to keep going
under any conditions"
AS to the health of the players,
Grinith added, we've always
wanted our players to be examined
and re-examined so there could
be no doubt as to their right
on the playing field. We have con-
tributed heavily to the war both in
manpower and money and we are
prepared to continue doing So"
With the green light shining so
brightly, another visit to Washing
ton by Will Harridge and Ford
Frick, presidents respectively of the
American League and the National
League, soon may be expected. AS
soon as the manpower legislation
is cleared they will seek further
information of the war mobiliza-
ton director and the War Man
power Commission.
Game Loses No Time.
Baseball lost no time in advancing
preparations for its campaign. The
American League made public its
schedule today, a schedule that re-
duces travel mileage extensively as
requested by the ONCE of Defense
Transportation and provides an
abundance Of night play as advocat-
ed by the President, who really is the
father Of the play under lights plan
as a healthy diversion for war
workers.
The major clubs, too, got down to
heavier training with more pitch
ing camps and more players, now
convinced that after draft rejection
they are free to pursue their profess
sion. This was particularly notice
able at the Mats camp at College
Park where only five players had
shown up in week Today size
able contingent was added to the
squad and by the first of next week
all Manager Os Bluege expects to
have for the start of the season
should be at hand.
Reporting early was Joe Kuhel,
veteran first sacker who checked in
yesterday just in time to participate
in the Mats first formal batting
practice. With Johnny Niggeling
and Roger Wolff, knuckle-balling
pitchers, putting a little extra into
their throws, and several volunteers
on the hill, the slim squad went
through an hour Of bat swinging.
The program was to be repeated
tOday.