Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1918 — Baseball Equipment Aids in Making Athletes of Soldiers of the U. S. Now in France [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Baseball Equipment Aids in Making Athletes of Soldiers of the U. S. Now in France

Three months ago an earnest appeal from a second lieutenant of an engineer regiment doing duty at a permanent post back of the lines in France, for athletic equipment to outfit five teams was mailed to Clark Griffith. Mr. Griffith responded to the call. Up to the present time the Griffith Bat and Ball fund has given the boys about 48,000 balls, 12,000 bats, 4,000 catcher’s masks, 4,000 catcher’s mitts, 4,000 chest protectors, 4,000 first base-

man’s mitts, 12,000 base bags, more than 60,000 fielder’s gloves and thousands upon thousands of baseball guides, score cards, sweaters, boxing gloves, shoes and countless other articles. In all, it has furnished a greater part of the baseball goods that have been sent over there. Clark Griffith’s appeal 'to President Wilson and the secretaries of the war department and the navy, as well as other men of influence is largely responsible for the interest that is being taken to keep the soldiers physically fit by athletic sports. “A soldier is only half a soldier until he becomes athletically trained.” This is the note of thanks that General Pershing sent to Mr. Griffith for the work that he has done for the American Expeditionary forces.

Clark Griffith.