Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1917 — BALL PLAYERS TURNED DOWN [ARTICLE]

BALL PLAYERS TURNED DOWN

Many Athletes In Various Branches of Sport Have Been Rejected as Physically Unfit. - t Since the exemption boards throughout the country settled down to work In earnest, It has developed that many athletes In various branches of sport have been turned down as unfit for military service. Earl Craddock, the wrestler, for instance, was declared physically unfit, as were Tommy Gibbons, Helnle Groh and many others. The percentage of ball players who have failed to stack up to requirements is large. Flat feet have been found very common among the pastimers, and deformed hands, due to “busted” fingers, have been the cause of excusing a good many players who were otherwise in superb physical condition. The lbw, half-shoes worn by a majority of ball players are responsible for flat wheels; tin ears have kept a number of fighters out of the army, and the “athletic heart,” with which a good many athletes are afflicted, has robbed Uncle Samuel of men.