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Show EFFECT OF WAR ON OUR NATIONAL GAME i i fit - ffSff ,.j:--a .- 1 :Wy . . SS::;:a VI T ' v. r . . -v-. ' . - . . EXECUTIVES OF THE MAJOR LEAGUES. Ban Johnson's announcement that in case war continued until next spring there would be no pennant race in IMS was just a plain statement of apparent fact. Therefore, it caused no surprise. If the majority of the major league players join the colors, naturally there will be no big league baseball. But the result in the long run may benelit the national game. With a lapse of a year or so, baseball is certain to come back stronger than ever. Some of the ills that afflict the American pastime now will be eliminated by an enforced vacation. As President Toner says, the fate of baseball depends on the developments of the next few months. When the .til comes, baseball players will be found as patriotic as nny other class of men. Perhaps more patriotic than men who make their living in other sports. They are Americans to the backbone. As Tener says, baseball will have to do its share the same as other walks of life. And even if the players do not have to join the colors immediately baseball can be made a great source of help in the war. It can be ma.de the medium of raising large sums of money. One thing is certain, from the statements of the two league presidents, and that is that the magnates will in no manner stand in the way or offer obstacles to the discharge of patriotic duty by the players under contract. However, as Johnson says, unless there are unexpected and serious developments, devel-opments, the leagues plan to finish the 1917 pennant race and play the world series. If the country is still involved in war next spring, no attempt will be made to begin another season and the ball parks will remain closed until the. return of peace. |
