Evening star., 1945-01-07
Night Play Seen
AS Best Chance.
For Survival
College and Scholastic
Athletics Apparently
To Be Little Touched

Athletics Apparently
To Be Little Touched
President Roosevelt's message to
Congress urging enactment of legis-
lation making all 4-F's available in
whatever capacity is best for the
war effort" last night threw heavy
pail over professional sports de-
pending heavily on these men for
their continued existence. In many
quarters it was foreseen gloomily as
the beginning of the end of all
sports above the sandlot, scholastic
and collegiate stage for the dura-
ton of the war.
In his message the President took
stand squarely behind War Mobil-
ization Director Jimmy Byrnes, who
ordered all racing halted last We'd
nesday and called for vitual work
or fight" legislation that would force
4-F's into essential war industry or
into limited military service.
Clark Griffith, president Of the
Washington Baseball Club, said he
wanted more time to digest the text
of the Presidents message before
commenting on it.
II hope way will be able to con-
tinue because it has done an awfully
good job on the home 'front.'" he
said. I'VE have co-operated with
the Government 101 per cent in
every respect, particularly in re-
stricting travel and in taking play
ing days to travel by day coach
rather than use Pullman space that
might be needed for essential
travel"
Marshall Is Unavailable.
George Marshall, Redskin chief,
could not be reached last night, but
the Presidents message is certain to
supersede every matter on the Ma
tional Football Leagues docket at
its annual midwinter meeting open
ing Tuesday at Chicago. Players
classified At comprised the frame
work around which all II clubs In
the circuit were built last season
and their loss might be a knockout
blow. %
Best indications last night were
that college basket ball meets al
ready scheduled would not be af-
fected by higher travel restrictions,
but officials intimated they would
seek definite ruling from the ONCE
of Defense Transportation early
this week.
Big league baseball and pro foot
ball heads maintained tight
Tipped silence, although in some
circles doubt was expressed whether
baseball would be able to open the
1945 season on schedule, what with
28l players out Of 400 in the. two
diamond leagues classified 4-F.
Presidents Will Harridge and
Ford Frick of the American and
National Leagues, respectively, had
no comment" to make on Presi-
dent Roosevelt's message to Con-
gress. Other major league officials
who met at Chicago yesterday to
discuss a new big league agreement
left town after surprisingly short
session.
Commissioner Elmer Layden of
the National Football League told
the Associated Press at Chicago
that his organization had not COM
pleted survey of players previous
ly rejected by the armed forces.
Those familiar with the league,
however, indicated that a sizeable
number were 4-F's or discharged
servicemen.
Nocturnal Play Might Help.
More optimistic fans suggested
that baseball might survive as
complete twilight or nocturnal
pastime on a curtailed basis, pro-
vided players Spent their days in
essential industry.
Pro football was able to retain many
players in this manner last season,
most clubs practicing at night or
in the late afternoon, while the
players were employed in war
plants. The clubs undoubtedly will
try to work out a similar plan on
a broader scale to survive 1945.
Football with its shorter season
and one game week program,
definitely Is In a more favorable
position than baseball to carry on.
The grid chieftains, too, have sew
|eral months before their next sea-
son to null over plans and hope
for change for the better in the
international situation, while the
diamond outfits already are in the
midst of spring training prepara-
tions.
Golf and boxing also might be
hit hard, although fighters and their
managers refused to view the situ-
alton with alarm. 1t Is not unusual
for the average ringman to train
in the evening after working at
his regular job all day and fighting
at night would not interfere with
his work. Boxing, it was suggested,
might profit handsomely by a shut
down on other sports. Willie Pep,
featherweight C h mpion, Bobby
Rufin, Ken Overlin and Ray Robin
son are among fighters either 4-F or
discharged from the services.
Two of golfdom's leading money
winners, Byron Nelson and jug Nc
Spaden, are Az, and the proposed
legislation, If enacted, probably
would interrupt the regular winter
tournament schedule.
College athletics, supported in the
(See PRESIDENTS. PAGE A-13o