| Show c 1 P CE D R RECENT outpourings of the populace populacE populace lace at large have shown one thing beyond all argument The public pub lic lie would rather have a contest contest- th than m class For example big league baseball has lost over of ot its best men to towar towar towar war service such players as Dickey Gordon Chandler Walker Cooper Joe DiMaggio Tex Hughson Hugh- Hugh son Bob Feller on Feller-on on and md on and on Thousands thought that the absence absence ab ab- sence of these stars would turn away the crowds But the closer and more mote interesting pennant races have e more than filled out the long lines at the turnstiles s You may recall Yom t the thc old days when 1 the Yankees were 18 games in front t around July or early August In t tho those h o s sed e d days a y s the Grantland Rice American league pennant race race was over just about when it started There Thero was no con con- test Last season eason the thc Cardinals had the thc National league race practically practical practical- ly won von back In April Once again again- no contest The recent derbies have had no Johnstown or Count Fleet But they offered contests contests- and brought out the greatest crowds in racing history as far tar as the United States is concerned The public wants to see a good rough and tumble scrap for the top top top-an an Interesting turmoil where more than one can win Even with the cold wet weather of May and early June the crowds have proved this point In hi baseball A Different Boom BODIn The new sporting boom now getting getting getting get get- ting under way Is entirely different from the boom that followed the First World war That was the boom and the era of stars stars known known as the Golden Age of sport This new boom will be all differ differ- ent In the first place it will have far more contestants through the army and navy sporting program In the second place it will all outclass outclass outclass out out- class those days In hi the matter of public interest and public attend attend- ance ante For us this has been a far rougher and more devastating war than the first world upheaval knew Then we went to war in April 1917 and we were through in hi November 1918 That was only a sprint by com com- parison But this war began in hi December 1941 and it is still going full blast The casualty list of this war will triple the casualty list of the number one affair The tremendous sports program which army and navy are arc working o on 01 1 is dead sure to bring in hi a star crop of baseball players football players and boxers from the younger young young- er set I These army and navy ball ballplayers ballplayers players will have the advantage atgood of at good training and fit condition Carl Hubbell says That can make a big difference Also there ought to be enough to go around so that all of us can improve Dave Ferriss and Al Benton have proved Hubbells Hubbell's slant Coaches Greasy Neale and Steve Owen feel the same way about it in regard to football So do the college coaches who expect to get their share of these veterans Commissioner Chandler has promised promIsed promised prom prom- to give thousands of extra kids a chance to play baseball who have been shut out before through lack of playing space It has already already already al al- al- al ready been proven clearly that this country needs more players than it needs extra spectators This idea may not strike every promoter as a happy happ thought but it will wilt be that way in hi the future In the meanwhile the first rush of the boom is already her here The ball parks are arc proving it So are the therace therace therace race tracks golf courses tennis courts and so on Mayor Major Test Case Hank Greenberg will be 35 years old on January 1 I 1946 He has been out of b baseball action four seasons and before he moved into war sere service service ice he had known 10 years of big league service From now on Tiger Hanks Hank's play will be followed with greater interest than the performance perform perform- ance ante of any other player now in baseball This not only includes every every every ev ev- ery baseball fan but also every veteran service athlete who hopes to return to some form of sport Joe Louis and Billy Conn are notable examples So are many other other other oth oth- er boxers many boxers many other ball players players play play- ers and many other football stars Greenberg at least will give us part of the answer as to what four years of athletic inaction will do I talked with the tall captain just before he was given his army re re- re- re lease Weighing pounds he looked fit for anything I only wish I 1 knew the answer he lie said but I 1 believe I 1 have at least two more seasons left in my system It will take a little time to get going again to get my eye on the ball I 1 hope not too long But I 1 Iam Iam am in hi good shape physically al at though my legs will need some sea sea- It will be good to get back in hi time to have at least a chance to pick up the old game Another year would have been too late |
