Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1919 — WINNERS IN VARIOUS BRANCHES OF SPORT IN AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL CLASSES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WINNERS IN VARIOUS BRANCHES OF SPORT IN AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL CLASSES

Practically all branches of sport were continued last year despite the war,' with th6~ possible exception of yachting. Yacht racing on the Pacific and Atlantic was at a standstill because most of the yachtsmen were in different branches of sea or coast service. A few races were staged on the Great Lakes, but none of any importance, for the same reason. Professional baseball was cut short because of the work-or-fight rule, but the big leagues played until September 2. The Boston Red Sox in the American league and the Chicago Cubs in the National league won the big league pennants. Tyrus Raymond Cobb once more led the American league batters and Zack Wheat won the honors in the old league. Net Honor* Divided. . Despite the fact that nine of the ten ranking stars of 1917 were in the service the net game gained in popularity by leaps and bounds. The contest for the honor of being placed first in the ranking was so close that officials finally rearranged the system of ranking and placed two men, R. Lindley Murray and William T. Tilden,/r., in Class 1, designating Murray as No. 1 in that class. The men in the next four classes of two men each compare to the others of what ordinarily would be the ranking ten. Molla Bjurstedt, the robust Norwegian star who electrified the tennis

world a few years ago by her wonderful debut, remained queen of the courts. The tennis committee rightfully placed her as No. 1 in the women’s lists. Ducote Gridiron King. Football, under new and novel conditions, had the greatest season in its history. Army and navy service teams developed at camps and,training stations produced great stars. The Cleveland naval reserve eleven, by virtue of its victory over Glenn Warner’s Pittsburgh university team, showed itself to be one of the greatest teams, if not the greatest, in the country! Dick Ducote, fullback of the team, stands out as the big star of the season. His powerful line plunging and his defensive skill earn him the title of “greatest player of the year.” —— Chick Evans Stars. There were no championship tournaments in golf. The leading stars of the game, however, gave their time and energy to staging benefit tourneys for the aid of war organizations and their efforts netted thousands of dollars. Chick Evans was easily the star of these tournaments. His playing in every meet was of championship caliber, which indicates the type of man Evans is. He gave the gallery his best, though there was little at stake. Miss Elaine Rosenthal, winner of the women’s western championship, is the star qf the women golfers.