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Newspaper
Wakefield Advocate
Location
Wakefield, Michigan, United States of America
Date
Dec 22, 1917
Page
12
Baseball figure Connie Mack calls for strong pitching rule changes to ban the spitball shine ball and other tricks. He argues such measures would curb cheating, raise batting averages, and pressure pitchers to join reforms as the sport winds toward winter deliberations.
Missouri team claims the starter mishap caused a delayed start in the high hurdle relay at Philadelphia. Bob Simpson won the race with a time of 15 25, unusually slow for him, as the clock failed to credit his fast final stretch after he corrected the restart.
Dave Shean of the Reds is described as not a formidable hitter, yet he drove in runs for Matty's club despite lacking strong batting averages.
Fd Sweeney, the Chiesco boy who formerly caught for the Yankees, now serves with the Three Hundred and Porty third infantry at Camp Grant.
Baseball owners convene to vote on a 140 game schedule and a five month player contract from May 1 to October 1. Players earning five thousand for six months would sign for four thousand one hundred sixty seven, saving clubs fifteen to twenty thousand each and the majors over three hundred thousand overall.
The national basketball rules committee introduces an end zone extending two feet behind each basket, placing baskets within play and prompting extra work around them. A second change requires entering substitutes to report to both scorer and referee. The timekeeper whistle will be the official end of play to reduce disputes over late referee signals.
The account credits Peter Maher as the hardest hitter in heavyweight boxing, citing a New Orleans fight with Bob Fitzsimmons. Joe Choynski, Tex Dunn and a Brooklynbased promoter corroborate Maher’s power, noting a first round knockdown and an eleventh round knockout as evidence.
Indianapolis star Jack Leary, first baseman of the champion Indians, has enlisted in the United States Navy and becomes the first American Association player to declare for service. Manager Jack Hendricks received the telegram confirming his decision. Leary had shown willingness to serve during the season and sought entry to Fort Benjamin Harrison’s Second Officers' Training Camp.
The piece argues that in many sports veterans are reclaiming top spots vacated by soldiers and younger players gone to war. It cites examples like Bob Fitzsimmons, Eddie Plank, Hans Wagner, Joe Hineman, and others, urging older athletes to prove their enduring skill and chase records.
Swedish athlete John Zander is named world champion after the Swedish Amateur Athletic Association officially recognizes his 1500 meter run in 3 54 7. He breaks the previous record of 3 55 8 set by American Kiviat at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
Football track swimming rowing and other stars from many colleges join the new army but boxing lags. Of famed boxers Jack Dillon and Willie Ritchie stand out as world reputations ready to enlist though Benny Leonard and Jess Willard have signaled readiness with less ardor than other sports stars.
Tom Tuickey, Santa Clara University baseball star, once courted by Connie Mack and other MLB managers, has enlisted in the army and reached sergeant rank at an Army training camp as he aims for a commission.
Grover Cleveland Alexander, star pitcher for the Phillies, matched Christy Mathewson's record by recording 30 wins and 15 losses this season. He also posted 33–12 in 1916 and 51–10 in 1915, the year Philadelphia won the pennant.
Bradley Hogg of the Los Angeles team in the Pacific Coast League posted his 15th straight win, completing the streak with the final game of the season.
United States Golf Association ran summer liberty golf tournaments for Red Cross aid. On Independence Day 485 clubs from most states, Idaho Nevada New Mexico and Oregon excluded, competed nationwide. Allegheny Country Club led with 4269 dollars, followed by Columbia Club 2089, Apawamis and Detroit clubs each 1690.
Fred Mollwitz, displaced from the Reds after Hal Chase joined the club and later sent to Kansas City by the Cubs, is expected to anchor the Pirates initial bag next season. With Vic Saier recovering from a broken leg and likely ready as first baseman, Fred Mitchell must choose between Saier and Merkle as Saier’s future utility is secured. Saier played first base for the Cubs late in the season while Merkle spent time in the outfield.
Cincinnati fans were stunned to learn Garry Herrmann was elected president of the Reds to the point of disbelief rivaling surprise at Willie Hoppe winning a billiard game.
Major league teams plan retrenchment for 1918 with small spring camps and reduced travel to the South. Draft activity was down in 1916 17, with clubs like the White Sox and Pirates drafting few or none. National Commission data shows 160 players purchased or drafted, but likely fewer than half will head South next spring.
Umpire Tom Connolly, famed as the dean of American League officials, never played baseball but studied the game to become a top arbiter. Born in Manchester England, he moved to America and settled in Natick Massachusetts around Grover Cleveland's first presidency, later umpiring semi pro games there.
Capt. Joseph J. O'Hare former West Point football player and chief aide to Brig. Gen. John A. Johnston has been named assistant chief of staff in charge of athletics at camps under the department of the Northeast. He graduated last year.
Former Federal League official Lloyd Rickart quits his post as secretary of the Toledo club. He will be succeeded by Phil Bresnahan, brother of manager Roger Bresnahan, in a changes announced today.
The University of Minnesota will donate its share of net proceeds from intercollegiate sports until August 1 1918 to the Red Cross fund.
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