Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1917 — WAR TO AID BASEBALL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAR TO AID BASEBALL

Would Stimulate Interest in National Sport,. Says Foster. Secretary of New York Giants Agrees With President Barrow That Game Would Not Suffer—Would Affect Seacoast John B. Foster, secretary of the New York Giants, agrees with President Barrow of the International league that the game of baseball will not suffer because of war. He believes even that baseball might be stimulated. “War has never hurt baseball in this country,” said Foster. “As a matter of fact, it was the baseball played during the Civil war by the soldiers which resulted in giving the game its great impetus in this country. “Baseball was highly prosperous during the Spanish-American war. Toronto had an extraordinary good season last year. As a result of the present war in Europe there is more baseball being played in England and France than ever before, and the game has gained a foothold in Italy. The reservists who were called home to the colors took the sport with them when they left this country. "Baseball games have been played repeatedly close to the actual fighting line. One game at Verdun went seven Innings before it was broken up by the appearance of Twstire~aer6plahes. “There is a lot of baseball being played around London, and it is exciting more interest in that vicinity than Lt ever did before. There are plans to organize a professional league at Monte Carlo as soon as the war is over. “Only seacoast cities will be much affected by war. In the interior the game- will go along pretty much the same. Baseball in New .York wdll not be affected to any extent, for the tea-

son that there are always so many visitors to the city, and when they come here they want to be amused. “The more men are forced to think of serious things the greater is their need for some form-of relaxation. I believe that in war times many will be glad to go to the ball grounds in the afternoon, even if it was only to find something to distract their minds. “It is probable that everybody will be talking war, but there will be no better place to discuss things than at the baseball parks. From all my experience and my years of connection with the game it is my opinion war or no war, baseball is due to a good year.”'

Secretary John B. Foster.