Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 227, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1917 — CHASE IS BIG FACTOR FINGERS KEEP PLAYERS OUT [ARTICLE]

CHASE IS BIG FACTOR

FINGERS KEEP PLAYERS OUT

Erroneous Idea That All Baseball Men Are Physically Fit for Service In the Army. The Idea that all ball players must be physically fit for service in the army appears to be erroneous. Heine Groh, third baseman of the Reds, received orders several days ago to report for examination, and Heine reported. He got away well in the physical test until one of the examiners noted that his fingers were not as straight as they should be. At various times during his baseball career Groh had smashed his fingers in finding batted or thrown balls, and they did not “come back.” As a result, Groh was rejected by the examining board. If the same rule Is to be followed, It means that several ball players who are otherwise physically fit will be rejected by the examining boards.