Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1918 — Former Boston Brave Roasts Ball Players Deserting Clubs to Take Steel League Jobs [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Former Boston Brave Roasts Ball Players Deserting Clubs to Take Steel League Jobs

Walter (Rabbit) Maranvllle, a chief gunner’s mate on the battleship Pennsylvania, former Boston Brave shortstop, and one of the greatest infielders of the National league, criticizes baseball players who are deserting

their clubs to take positions In the Steel league and to play with shipbuilding concerns. He says the move displays a lack of patriotism and is not helping the sport, inasmuch as the people who support the game do not think highly of these men. “Ball players who are in the draft and jump their clubs to go to work in the steel and shipbuilding leagues are not doing baseball a bit of good,” said Maranville. “They also are not helping Uncle Sam. They are not skilled enough to be of much use in those concerns and their chief object is to play ball. Fans will remember the players who left their clubs, and after the war is over those who come back undoubtedly will be tormented all around the circuit for their act.”

Walter Maranville.