Index

Page numbers refer to the print edition.

115th Field Artillery, 75

166th Infantry, 37, 154

309th Infantry, 169–70

312th Labor Battalion team, 128

342nd Field Artillery, 173, 174; team, 125–26

349th Field Artillery team, 127

369th Infantry Regiment, 159–60

1907 World Series, 136

1916 World Series, 136

1917 season, xi–xii; Minor Leagues suffering in, 66; opening, 15, 16–17, 30; and players waiting to enlist, 47–48; state of war in, 42

1917 World Series, 52, 53–54, 137

1918 season: Minor League prospects for, 66–67, 79–81; opening, 82–83; players scattering after, 133, 135, 148–49; quality of play in, 119–31; schedule, 83, 136; speculation about, 60–67, 79–81, 207n41

1918 World Series, 116–17, 136–49; attendance, 140–41, 142, 143; at Comiskey Park, 138–39; game 1 of, 140–42; games 2 and 3 of, 142; game 4 of, 143; game 5 of, 144–47; game 6 of, 147; gate receipts of, 142; labor disputes at, 142–43, 144–48; lack of fan interest in, 138, 139, 141; player earnings for, 137, 142–43, 147–48; publicity, 145–46; and Registration Day, 137–38; scheduling, 136; weather, 139; wounded fighters attending, 143, 146

1919 season: opening, 183–84, 221n37; optimism about, 174; pessimism about, 134–35, 174–75; schedule, 175. See also Black Sox scandal

Acton, Harry, 153

Adams, Charles “Babe,” 120–21

Adams, Franklin P., 75

African American teams and players, 127, 128, 159–60, 191, 222n4

age, draft eligibility and, 28, 119

Ainsmith, Eddie, 83, 105–6, 108–9, 133

air crashes, 71, 84, 140, 168, 215n31

Air Service, 70–71; teams, 129

Alexander, Grover Cleveland “Pete,” 84–85, 132; alcoholism of, 185–86; armistice and, 173; and Army-Navy switch, 84; in combat, 160; fitness of, questioned, 181–82; injuries and shell shock of, 185–86; occupation duty of, 176; playing Army baseball, 125, 126; postwar form of, 184–86

Allied counterattack, 164–68

Altrock, Nick, 119, 133

American Association (Class AA), 35, 182; and International League, 60–62; military drilling by, 21–22, 40, 43–44; shutting down, 113

American Expeditionary Forces (AEF): baseball, 87–88, 127–29; discharge of, 175–76; influenza among, 152–53; players in, numbers of, 189–92

American League: Ban Johnson seeking leave from, 56–57; club owners taking over, 116–17; military preparedness scheme backed by, 1, 5–7, 11, 13–15, 40; player limit removed, 68–69; players from, in uniform, 190, 191–92; players missing from, in 1918, 69

American Soldiers Baseball League, 127–28

Anglo-American Baseball League, 129

armistice, 172–87; and restarting baseball, 174

Arms, Louis Lee, 75–76, 79; on Chemical Warfare Service, 162; on draft evasion, 95; on George Sisler, 162–63; on Minor Leagues, 101, 113

Army teams, 124–26, 127–29; Air Service and, 129; vs. Navy, 130–31; segregation of, 127, 128. See also military teams

Atlantic Fleet team, 123

Bader, Lore “King,” 60

Baker, Newton, 41, 106, 108–9, 115; 1918 World Series sanctioned by, 117

ballparks: Bat and Ball Fund Days at, 49, 51; conversion of, to military uses, 135, 193; as drilling grounds, 15

Bancroft, Dave, 153

Bancroft, Frank, 13, 93

bankruptcy, 79

Barrow, Ed, 31, 57, 60–61, 62; and 1918 World Series, 145, 148; Ban Johnson defended by, 64; resignation of, from International League, 66

Barry, Jack, 12, 16, 132; enrolling in naval reserve, 39, 59, 60; leaving officers’ school, 175; managing Boston Navy Yard team, 121–23

Barry, Thomas H., 18

baseball: in the 1920s, 193–94; ban from, 124, 193; business end of, as unpatriotic, 77; military contribution of, 189; as military training, 23; as valuable to country, 100

Baseball and the Armed Forces Committee, 191

Baseball Magazine, 192

Bat and Ball Fund, 19–20, 48–49, 51–52, 77, 193, 222n8; and American Soldiers Baseball League, 128; Israel and, 193, 222n8; loss of supplies from, 48–49

Bat and Ball Fund Day, 49

Batchelor, E. A., 97

Bates, Ray, 42

battle, 153–71

Belleau Wood, 158

Bender, Charles “Chief,” 92

Benz, Joe, 54

Bethlehem Steel Corporation Baseball League, 90, 92, 148

betting, 210n2

Black, William, 6

Blackburne, Lena “Slats,” 93

Black Sox scandal, 124, 148, 193

Blue Devils, 206n25

Blue Ridge League, 101

Boche, 59

Boston Braves: 1919 opener of, 183–84, 221n37; enlisting, 25–27; Gowdy’s farewell party thrown by, 36; Gowdy’s return to, 186–87; military drilling of, 10, 13, 37–38

Boston Marathon, 183

Boston Navy Yard team, 121–23

Boston Red Sox, xi, 118; 1917 opener, 16; 1918 opener, 82–83; 1918 pennant won by, 132; and Dodgers, drilling controversy between, 12–13; exhibitions, 149; military drilling of, 38–39; in Navy, 59–60; patriotic displays of, 29; player demands, 137; as world champions, 136, 147. See also 1918 World Series

Bressler, Rube, 151

Brooklyn Dodgers: 1919 opener of, 183–84, 221n37; exhibition game, 184; fund-raising efforts by, 127; military drilling of, 10; and Red Sox, drilling controversy between, 12–13; registering for draft, 28

Brooklyn Navy Yard team, 122, 151

Brooklyn Royal Giants, 221n37

Brown, Innis, 75

bucket shops, 210n2

buildup, 36–55

Bulger, Bozeman, 16, 18, 218n14; on Grant and McCormick, 45; on military drills, 6–7, 17; military service of, 74

Burke, Frank “Brownie,” 160

Burns, George, 149

Burr, Alexander Thomson, 168

Bush, Leslie “Bullet Joe,” 143

Cadore, Leon, 41, 59, 72, 127, 159–60; and the 369th Infantry Regiment, 159–60; and 1919 season opener, 183–84

“camouflaged players,” 95–96

Camp Devens team, 122

Camp Dix, 127

Camp Funston, 125–26

Camp Grant team, 123

Camp Merritt team, 151

Camp Perry, 37

Camp Pike team, 124–25

Camp Sheridan, 37, 54–55, 87, 140

Canada, 23, 31, 133–34

Carlson, Hal, 123, 160

Carter, William G. H., 56

censorship, 58–59

Central Association (Class B), 34

Central League (Class B), 69

Central Texas League, 30–31

Chapman, Harry, 217n9

Chapman, Ray, 54

Chappell, LaVerne “Larry,” 153, 170

Charleston, Oscar, 191

Chemical Warfare Service, 162–64, 175–76

Cheseldine, R. M., 59

Chester Ship, 150

Chicago American Giants, 221n37

Chicago Cubs, 118; 1918 opener, 84, 85; 1918 pennant won by, 132; 1919 opener, 184–85; military parade before game of, 28; playing at Comiskey Park, 138–39. See also 1918 World Series

Chicago White Sox: 1917 opener, 18; 1917 pennant of, 51; in 1917 World Series, 52, 53; 1918 season of, 134; Jim Scott and, 50; military drilling of, 7–9, 11, 13, 14, 18, 43; patriotic displays by, 28–29

Chouinard, Felix “Phil,” 123, 124

Christie, George V., 76

Cicotte, Eddie, 52

Cincinnati Reds: and Christy Mathewson, 87–89, 180; exhibition game played by, 54; and Fred Toney, 72, 85–86; and Remington Arms, 222n5

Clarke, Jay Justin “Nig,” 46–47

Cleveland Indians, 11–12, 134; exhibition games played by, 54–55

Cobb, Ty, 162; gassing of, 163–64; returning home, 175

Collins, Edward, 9, 11, 53, 134

Collins, John, 184

Collyer, John L., 212n57

Colombes, France, 128

Comiskey, Charles: Ban Johnson and, 8; and industrial leagues, 95, 178; on military preparedness, 7–8, 13; and player limits, 69; public relations skills of, 8, 14; Red Cross drive of, 19, 193; stingy reputation of, 199n9; and work or fight rule, 116–17; World Series and, 41, 55, 138–39, 140–41, 148

Comiskey Park, 138–39, 148

Copper League, 91, 120

Craft, Maurice “Molly,” 28

Craighead, Walter, 136

Crowder, Enoch, 27–28, 63, 104; and work or fight rule, 99–100, 115

Crusinberry, James, 185

Curley, James, 60

Daniel, Dan, 63, 78; on Frank Truesdale, 120; on Fred Toney, 107; on Harry McCormick, 156; on Steel League, 93; on work or fight rule, 109

Dean, John, 10, 43

Delaware River Shipbuilding League, 91, 92, 94, 150

Dennis, D. W., 10

Dental Reserve Corps, 47

Detroit Tigers, 51, 100, 136; complaining of drills, 11; enlisting, 46–47, 162; military drilling of, 3, 12; and work or fight rule, 100

Dickerson, E. W., 32, 103

Dillhoefer, William “Pickles,” 84

disease: army service prevented by, 8; influenza, 152–53, 163, 180, 217n9; players killed by, 153, 168

Dixie League (Class D), 33

Dolan, Leo, 169–70

Donovan, William “Wild Bill,” 3

Doolan, Mickey “Doc,” 120

Dorey, Halstead, 1–2, 16, 25

Dougher, Louis A., 95, 97, 107, 116, 163

Douglas, Phil, 143

Douglas MacArthur, 217n11

Doyle, Charles J., 181

draft: active players called in, 41–42; age and, 28, 119; appeals, 106; Ban Johnson and, 39–40, 62–66, 204n25; evasion, 72, 85, 97, 106–7; exemptions from, for heavy industry workers, 90, 94–95, 97; and lack of training cantonments, 42; lottery, 27; players registering for, 27, 28; quality of play affected by, 64, 67; statistics, 190. See also work or fight rule

Dreyfuss, Barney, 116, 174

drill sergeants, 1–15, 42–43, 74. See also military drills

Dugan, John, 133

Duluth, MN, team, 114

Dunn, James, 110, 134–35

Eastern League, 113, 182

Ebbets, Charles: converting park into warehouse, 135; on drafted players, 41; on Huston’s criticisms, 78; military drilling and, 10, 12; recruiting station in office of, 19; on work or fight rule, 111

Ebbets Field, military use for, 135

Edgren, Robert, 177

Ehmke, Howard, 124

Eisenhower, Dwight, 191

Elliott, Harold “Rowdy,” 124

engineers, 45–46

equipment: Bat and Ball Fund providing, 19–20, 51–52, 77, 193; manufactured in France, 128; YMCA providing, 48, 88

Evans, Billy, 28, 54

Evers, Johnny, 26, 36, 83, 155, 191; joining Knights of Columbus, 89–90; seeing action, 161

exemptions. See draft

exhibition games, 184; illegal, 149; spring training, 182; for troops, 54–55, 71, 194

Faber, Urban “Red,” 52, 53, 95, 184

fans: and 1918 World Series, 138, 139, 141; gifts from, 151; and industrial leagues, 94–95; and military drills, 6, 10, 15

farming, 217n63, 217n9

Farrell, J. H., 61, 79–80, 104, 182, 192

Federal Committee on Public Information, 138

Federal League, 21, 31

Fifth Battle of Ypres. See Meuse-Argonne offensive

Fifth Naval District team, 151–52

Fillingim, Dana, 221n37

Fincher, William “Big Bill,” 125

Finkel, Jan, 185, 186

Finneran, Joseph “Happy,” 106

First Gas Regiment, 165

Fisher, George J., 88–89

Fisher, Ray “Schoolmaster,” 127, 185

Fitzgerald, John “Honey Fitz,” 147

Fleischer, Nat, 74

floral jinxes, 183, 184

Florida State League, 182

flyovers, 83, 84

Foerster, George, 37

Fohl, Lee, 11–12, 92

Forman, W. S., 40–41

Fort Bayard, 91

Forty-Second Division, 37, 45, 52–53; assigned to occupation duty, 176; exhibition game for, 54; in France, 57–59, 73, 154–55, 164

Foster, John B., 34–35

Fourth Naval District team, 151–52

Frazee, Harry: and 1918 World Series, 136, 137; Ban Johnson defended by, 64; on barnstorming, 149; Barrow hired by, 66; on military preparedness scheme, 7, 12, 38; on need for baseball, xi; signing replacement players, 132; trying to retrieve players, 122; and work or fight rule, 116–17, 211n42

Fullerton, Hugh, 79, 86, 89, 98, 191; on 1919 season, 175; on Boston Navy Yard team, 121–22; calling McCormick “yellow,” 157; on lack of fan interest, 138

Gainer, Del, 60, 123

Gantz, James W., 74

gas: injury from, 163–64, 165; masks, 163, 217n11; training accident, 163–64, 173

Gas and Flame Division. See Chemical Warfare Service

George V, King, 130, 131

Georgia-Alabama League (Class D), 22–23

Gibson, Smith, 1–4, 7, 17

Gleason, Kid, 178

Glenn, Harry, 153

Goodwin, Marvin, 70–71

Gowdy, Henry “Hank,” 217n14; in 1919 season, 186–87; on Douglas MacArthur, 217n11; enlisting, 25–27; farewell party for, 36; in the Forty-Second Division, 37, 52–53, 57–59, 73, 154–55; in Fourth Ohio Infantry, 37; gifts to, 186; Guy Viskniskki and, 212n47; occupation duty of, 176; publicity featuring, 58–59, 73; on regimental team, 53, 129; seeing action, 73, 154–55; World War II service of, 194–95

Gowdy Field, 194–95

Graham, Charlie, 103

Grant, Edward, 191, 194–95; on AEF team, 129; burial of, 167, 168; crossing Atlantic, 72–73; death of, 167; enlisting, 24–25, 44–45; in Meuse-Argonne offensive, 165–68

Great Depression, 193

Great Lakes team, 123–24, 151–52

grenades, 9–10, 198n15

Griffith, Clark, 19; on Ban Johnson and draft, 63; Bat and Ball Fund of, 19–20, 48–49, 51–52, 77, 193, 222n8; military preparedness scheme of, 198n16; and work or fight rule, 110, 116–17

Griner, Dan, 151

gunners, 173, 220n6

Halliday, Newton S., 140

Hamilton, Earl, 124

Hank Gowdy Day, 186

Harding, Warren G., 189

Harlan & Hollingsworth, 94, 150–51

Harlem Rattlers, 159–60

Harris, Joe, 160, 181

Hassenpfeffer, Nicodemus, 63

Haughton, Percy, 37–38, 162

Head of the Lakes–Mesaba League, 91

Hebberd, John B., 55

Heilbroner, Louis, 205n6, 211n20

Hellfighters, 159–60

Hempstead, Harry, 135, 174, 207n41

Hendricks, Jack, 135–36, 170

Hendryx, Tim, 3

heroism, 157–59, 166–67

Herrmann, August “Garry,” 62, 65, 77, 180; and 1918 World Series, 145; on Marcus Milligan, 140; on work or fight rule, 115

Heydler, John A.: and 1918 World Series, 145, 146; and 1919 season, 174, 176, 183; on players in uniform, 190

Hickey, Thomas J., 22, 113, 209n39

Hoblitzell, Dick, 47

Hoffman, A. B., 10, 38–39

Hogg, Bradley, 153

Hooper, Harry, 143, 145, 148

Hornsby, Roger, 105, 135

Hubbard, Jess “Mountain,” 127, 222n4

Huggins, Miller, 70, 83, 91–92, 135

Hummel, John, 120

Huston, Arthur, 44

Huston, T. L. “Cap,” 29–30, 149, 217n14; anger of, at Browns, 43; Ban Johnson and, 5, 6, 56–57, 65; and Bob Shawkey, 180; description of, 4; in France, 45–46, 153–54, 164–65; in Meuse-Argonne offensive, 164–65; military preparedness scheme of, 1–6, 10, 13–15, 16–19, 198n16; on patriotism, xi; returning home, 176; self-interview of, 76–79; work or fight rule and, 109; and Yankee Stadium, 194

Hyatt, Ham, 120

Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Class B), 22, 31, 33–34, 182

Indianapolis Indians, 17–18

industrial league ball, 90–98, 212n57, 222n5; fan commentary on, 94–95; Joe Jackson playing for, 93–94, 150; players removed from, 96–97; poaching accusations against, 91–93, 209n39; press criticizing players in, 95–96, 97–98; professional players in, 91–92, 93, 95–96; revised attitudes toward players in, 176–79; sportswriters on, 95–96, 97–98

influenza, 152–53, 163, 180, 217n9

International League (Class AA), 35, 101, 182; and American Association, 60–62; financial troubles of, 31, 66, 79; and New International League, 80, 113–14, 133–34

Interstate League (Class D), 22

Israel, 193, 222n8

Jackson, Joe, 93–94, 95, 150–51; and Black Sox scandal, 193; defense of, 97, 177–78

Jackson, Virgil, 74

Jacobson, William “Baby Doll,” 47, 60

Janvrin, Hal, 38, 71–72, 126

Jappe, Al, 74

Jenkins, Joe, 71, 161, 184

Jennings, Hugh, 11, 51, 136

jinxes, 183, 184

Johnson, Ban, 3, 191, 193; and 1918 World Series, 136, 145; on 1919 season, 174; on American League prospects before war, 20; on canceling World Series, 40; Charles Comiskey and, 8; criticism of, 62–64; defense of, 64–65; on exemptions, 39–40, 62–66, 204n25; Huston on, 77; John Tener and, 116; military preparedness and, 5, 8–9, 11–13, 38, 44, 74; player limits removed by, 68–69; reputation of, 62–64, 66; on Steel League, 94; T. L. Huston and, 5, 6, 56–57; wanting to enlist, 56–57; and work or fight rule, 100, 110, 116–17

Johnson, Walter “Big Train,” 17, 84, 114, 133

Jones, Sam, 149

Joquel, Arthur, 215n31

Kansan (freighter), 48

Kansas City Blues, 113

Kauff, Benny, 53

Keaton, Buster, 191

Kelly, Joe, 221n37

Kenney, Franklin, 9, 10, 18

Kilduff, Pete, 132

Killefer, Bill, 84, 85, 143, 149, 184

Kinney, W. W., 216n40

Kinsella, Dick, 80–81

Kirke, Jay, 120

Klepfer, Ed, 160

Knights of Columbus, 189; Jack Hendricks joining, 135–36; Johnny Evers joining, 89–90

Kofoed, J. C., 74

von Kolnitz, Alfred “Fritz,” 177–78

Krueger, Ernie, 221n37

labor disputes, 142–43, 144–48

Lafitte, Ed “Doc,” 47, 129, 130, 131

Lakjer, Marie “Tiger Lady,” 220n25

Lambeth, Otis, 125, 174

Landis, Kenesaw Mountain, 193

Lane, John, 39, 121

Lanighan, Matt, 169–70

Lannin, Joe, 113

Latham, Walter Arlington “Arlie,” 130, 191

Lavan, John “Doc,” 124

League Island Navy Yard, 91

Lewis, George “Duffy,” 60, 124

Lewis, Harry, 74

Liberty Bonds, 53, 54, 83, 192–93

“Liberty League,” 103

Lieb, Frederick G., 3, 15, 61, 64; on 1918 World Series, 132; on draft, 69; on Fred Toney, 179; on Harry McCormick, 156; on state of 1918 teams, 120, 121; on Steel League controversy, 97–98; on work or fight rule, 100, 109–10

limit, player, 68–69

Lincoln Giants, 221n37

Lobert, Hans, 92

Lockport, NY, 169–70

the “Lost Battalion,” 166, 168

Luneville Sector, 73

Lynn, Byrd, 95, 178

Macbeth, W. J. “Bill,” 5, 137, 198n15; on 1918 World Series, 138–39, 144, 145, 146; on Cleveland vs. St. Louis, 134; on Harry McCormick, 157; on Huston, 78; on the New International league, 80; on work or fight rule, 109

Mack, Connie, 15; Ban Johnson defended by, 65; defending shipyard players, 176–77; on drafted players, 42

Magee, Sherwood, 153

Malone, Lew, 221n37

Mamaux, Al, 92

managers, new jobs found by, 135–36

Mann, Leslie, 143

Mann Act, 85–86, 107, 179

Maranville, Walter “Rabbit,” 26, 47; and 1919 season opener, 183–84; armistice and, 172; in Navy, 60, 121, 123; rejoining Braves, 127

March, Peyton C., 56, 175

Mare Island team, 124

Marshall, Harry, 83

Marshall, Thomas, 15

Martin, Edward, 143

Mathewson, Christy, 45, 86, 90; armistice and, 173, 180; bonds sold by, 193; in Chemical Warfare Service, 162, 163–64; and Cincinnati Reds, 87–89, 180; death of, 180; injured by gas, 163–64, 173, 180, 186; suffering influenza, 163, 173; YMCA and, 87–89

Mayer, Walter, 149

Mays, Carl, 142

Maysville, KY, 138

McAdoo, William, 193

McBride, George, 28

McCarthy, Tommy, 114

McCormick, Harry “Moose,” 217n14; on AEF team, 129; enlisting, 24–25, 44–45; to France, 58; reassignment of, 156–57; shell shock suffered by, 155–57; in World War II, 194

McGeehan, W. P., 74

McGillicuddy, Cornelius. See Mack, Connie

McGillicuddy, Roy, 121

McGrath, Ed, 187

McGraw, John, 7; Ban Johnson and, 117; Fred Toney and, 107; Gowdy and, 53; Mathewson hired by, 180; on servicemen’s fitness to play, 181–82

McInnis, Brick, 152

McInnis, John “Stuffy,” 144, 152

McKay, J., 3

McMullin, Fred, 124

McNally, Mike, 60, 129; and Army-Navy game, 130, 131

Menosky, Michael “Leaping Mike,” 129, 160

Merkle, Fred, 149

methodology, xii

Meuse-Argonne offensive, 164–68, 169–71

Michigan-Ontario League, 182

Milan, Jesse “Zeb,” 28

military drills, 1–6, 10, 13–15, 16–19, 198n16; army regulations and, 2; demonstration of, 16–19; effect of, on baseball play, 10–11; fans and, 6, 10, 15; of Major League teams, 1–15; as missed opportunity, 77; players unhappy with, 11; prize for, 13, 43; publicity of, 13–14

military teams, 121–31, 151–53; overseas circuit, 127–31; segregation of, 127, 128; Southern Association doomed by, 102

Miljus, Johnny, 160, 181

Miller, Hank, 149

Miller, Hugh “Hughie,” 157–59

Miller, John “Dots,” 70, 206n11

Milligan, Marcus, 140, 190

Minor Leagues, 200n15; classes of, 21; deaths of players from, 168–70; failing, 22–23, 33–35, 69, 101–4, 200n15; on industrial leagues’ recruiting, 209n39; instability of, 21–23, 30–35, 66–67, 79–81, 100–101; Major League poaching by, 114; Majors signing players from, 102; military drilling in, 10; military service of players from, 192, 211n20; patriotic displays by, 17–18; player and territorial rights in, 32; postwar, 182–83; proposed mergers in, 60–61, 67, 80; work or fight rule and, 112–14

Mitchell, Clarence, 125, 173–74

Mogridge, George, 92

Monroe, Ed, 97

Moran, Pat, 180

Morris, Walter, 22

Morton, Guy, 124–25

Murphy, Rod, 124

National Agreement of Professional Base Ball Associations, 32

national anthem. See “The Star-Spangled Banner”

National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, 31–32, 61–62

National Commission: advising on draft deferments, 104–5; criticism of, 146; labor disputes and, 142–43, 144–48; supporting Minor Leagues, 62; ticket prices reduced by, 137; World Series scheduled by, 52, 136

National League: Heydler as president of, 145, 146; players from, in industrial jobs, 192; players from, in uniform, 190, 192; players missing from, in 1918, 69; and preparedness drills, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12–13, 37–38; Tener resigning from, 118; urging players to enlist, 65–66

Nationals. See Washington Senators

Navin, Frank. J., 57, 100

Navy, 189; vs. Army, 130–31; Boston Red Sox in, 59–60; recreation funds of, 19–20; teams, 121–24, 129–31

Newark, NJ, team, 114

New England League, 182

New International League. See International League (Class AA)

New York Giants: in 1917 World Series, 52, 53; enlisting, 24–25; exhibition game of, 71; Fred Toney and, 107; Mathewson and, 180

New York Lincoln Stars, 221n37

New York State League (Class B), 33, 61, 79–80; closure of, 182; and New International League, 80

New York Yankees: 1917 opener, 16–17; 1918 opener, 83–84; exhibition game, 184; finishing 1918 season, 132–33; military drilling of, 1–4, 6, 9, 13, 14, 16–17

North Carolina League, 30

Northern League (Class D), 33

Northwestern League (Class B), 34, 90

Northwest International League, 182

Nowlin, Bill, 141

Noyes, Winfield “Win,” 42, 125

Nunamaker, Les, 3

occupation duty, 176

Oeschger, Joe, 153

O’Hara, Billy, 23–24

Ohio-Pennsylvania League, 200n15

Ohio State League, 200n15

O’Loughlin, Francis “Silk,” 54

O’Neale, James Saunders, 160–61

O’Neil, Bucky, 74

Organized Baseball: definition of, 21, xi; dependent on Enoch Crowder, 27–28, 100, 105; recovery of, in the 1920s, 193–94; speculation about, 20–21, 65

Pacific Coast League, 35, 102, 103–4, 182

“Paint and Putty Leagues,” 94

parades, military, 28, 206n25

Paris Base Ball Association, 127–28

Parnham, James “Rube,” 105

Patriots’ Day, 183–84

Pegler, Westbrook, 25, 58–59

Pennock, Herb, 26, 60, 121, 129; in Army-Navy game, 130, 131; on getting back to baseball, 174

Perry, Scott, 116

Pershing, John J. “Black Jack,” 42; on Belleau Wood, 158; on Meuse-Argonne offensive, 164

Pétain, Henri-Philippe, 42

Pfeffer, Jeff, 59, 126, 151, 183

Philadelphia Athletics: 1918 opener, 82–83; closing 1918 season, 133; granting free admission to servicemen, 28–29; military drilling of, 3, 17; players drafted, 41–42

Pick, Charlie, 142

Pipp, Wally, 175

plane crashes, 71, 84, 140, 168, 215n31

Plattsburg Movement, 24–25

players: “camouflaged,” 95–96; civilian jobs sought by, 34; civilian war efforts of, 192–93; criticism of, 60; discharged from military service, 175–76; enlisted, rejoining teams, 126–27; enlisting, 46–47, 59–60, 69–73, 95, 104, 205n6; farming, 217n63, 217n9; fighting overseas, 23–24; in industrial leagues, 91–92, 93, 95–96; interviews of, after war, 179–81; killed in wartime, 139–40, 167, 168–70; labor demands of, 137; military service statistics for, 69, 119, 189–92, 211n20, 222n4; over draft age, 119; salary of, 77, 199n9; scattering after 1918 season, 133, 135, 148–49; unpaid, 33

poaching, 91–93, 114, 209n39

Polo Grounds, 16–17, 135

Ponder, Elmer, 160

Portland Buckaroos, 102

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 155–57, 185–86

Powell, Ray, 221n37

Powers, Johnny, 103

Prendergast, Mike, 84

press: on Army-Navy game, 131; criticizing industrial league players, 95–96, 97–98

Price, James, 64

Prince, Ben, 106

Prohibition, 193

quality of play: in 1918 season, 119–31; draft affecting, 64, 67

Quinlan, Thomas A. “Finners,” 170–71

Quinn, John Picus, 120

racism: nicknames and, 46; and segregated teams, 127, 159–60

Rainbow Division. See Forty-Second Division

recreation funds, 20, 193. See also Bat and Ball Fund

recruitment, examinations a hindrance to, 7–8

Red Cross donations, 78, 193; Charles Comiskey giving, 19, 77; and drill prize, 43; by New York Giants, 71

Redding, Dick “Cannonball,” 191, 222n4

Registration Days, 27, 28, 104, 137–38, 190

Remington Arms, 222n5

Resnati, Antonio, 83, 84

“return to normalcy,” 189

Rice, Grantland, 17, 25; on 1918 season, 67, 132; on armistice, 172; military service of, 74, 75–76; returning home, 180–81; securities lost by, 181; sports not covered by, 111–12; war memories of, 194

Rice, Thomas, 199n39; on Christy Mathewson, 89; on Huston, 77–78; on military drills, 12–13, 14; on Steel League, 96

Rickey, Branch, 162, 163, 175–76

Rico, Arthur, 36–37, 60

Risberg, Charles “Swede,” 124

Roaring Twenties, 193

Robbins, George S., 178

Robinson, Wilbert, 12, 38

Roosevelt, Archibald, 44

Roosevelt, Franklin D., 18–19

Roosevelt, Kermit, 44

Roosevelt, Theodore, Jr., 44

Roth, Dave, 153

Rowland, Clarence “Pants,” 9–10, 18

Rubin, Richard, 73

Ruel, Herold “Muddy,” 125

Ruelbach, Ed, 198n15

Runyon, Damon, 53; on the Lost Battalion, 166–67

Ruppert, Jacob, 16, 29; on Ban Johnson and draft, 63; description of, 4; and Huston’s self-interview, 78–79

Russell, Albert, 9

Ruth, Babe, 82–83, 93, 194; and 1918 World Series, 141, 143; influenza contracted by, 153; injury of, 143, 216n40; war service of, 148–49

Sanborn, I. E., 9, 18, 139

Sanders, Roy, 120

Schalk, Ray, 9, 135

Schauer, Alexander “Rube,” 42

Schmandt, Ray, 125

Schofield, Perry, 10, 38

Schwab, Charles M., 90–91

Scott, Everett, 149

Scott, James “Death Valley Jim,” 9, 47, 49–50, 52; commissioned, 69–70; World Series share given to, 55

Seattle Shipbuilders’ League, 34

Selective Service Act, 27

Seventy-Seventh Division, 72–73, 165–68

Shafer, Arthur “Tillie,” 71, 191, 206n13

Sharman, Ralph, 140

Shawkey, Bob, 126, 179–80, 220n25

Shean, Dave, 143

shell shock, 155–57, 185–86

Sheridan, Gene, 151

Sheridan, J. B., 95, 119, 157–58

Shibe Park, 15

shipyards and Shipyard League, 34, 90, 150–51, 176–79. See also industrial league ball; Steel League

Shore, Ernie, 60, 123, 175

Shorten, Charles Henry “Chick,” 60

Sibert, William, 162

Sims, William, 130

Sisler, George, 162–63

Sixteenth Engineers (Railway), 45–46

Skipper, John C., 185–86

slackerism, 3, 84, 95, 111–12, 189, 192

Sloan, Yale, 47

Sloane, William, 88

Smart, W. E., 10, 15, 17

Smiley, Walter, 7–11, 13, 18, 29, 42–43

Smith, Elmer, 160

Smith, E. V., 14

Smith, Sherrod “Sherry,” 71, 160

Society of the American Baseball Research (SABR), 191, 222n4

South Atlantic League, 182

Southern Association, 102, 182, 192

Southworth, Billy, 102

Spalding’s Guide, 192

Spanish flu, 152–53, 163, 180, 217n9

Sparrow, Harry, 3, 4, 93

Spatz, Lyle, 4, 5

Speaker, Tris, 11, 54, 114, 175, 193

Speaks, John C., 26

Sporting News, 78, 124, 125, 127, 158, 173; on 1918 World Series, 146; on industrial leagues, 96, 98, 178; on influenza outbreak, 152; poems in, 70, 96; on sportswriters’ service, 75; yeomen criticized by, 60, 122

sportswriters: on heroism, 158; on industrial league ball, 95–96, 97–98; poem about, 75–76; service of, 74–76, 160–61, 180

spring training: exhibition games, 71, 182; military preparedness at, 6, 8, 9–10

Stahlhefer, Harry W., 69

Stallings, George, 26, 38

Standard Shipbuilding, 150

Stars and Stripes: on 1918 World Series, 146; Hank Gowdy interviewed by, 154–55; sports not covered by, 111–12, 138, 156, 212n47

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” 17, 29, 141–42

“Steal League,” 91, 98

Steele, Bob, 98

Steel League: vs. Shipyard League, 150. See also industrial league ball

Steinberg, Steve, 4, 5

Stengel, Charles “Casey,” 47–48, 59, 151

St. Louis Browns: Cleveland skipping doubleheader against, 134; military drilling of, 3, 43

St. Louis Cardinals: 1918 opener, 84, 85; draft controversy and, 105

St. Mihiel, France, 164, 165

Stoddart, Dayton, 44

Street, Charles “Gabby,” 50, 106, 129, 165, 219n48

striking, 142–43, 144

Tan, Cecilia, 141

teams. See military teams; specific teams

Tearney, A. R., 31–32, 33–34

Tener, John: and Ban Johnson, 57, 63, 116, 204n25; on Christy Mathewson, 88; Huston on, 77; military preparedness and, 2; on National League prospects before war, 20–21; on player limits, 68; resignation of, 118; on war tax, 30; on work or fight rule, 110–11, 116; on World Series, 40

Tesreau, Charles “Jeff,” 92

Texas League, 35; folding, 102; military drilling by, 22; return of, 182

Thirtieth “Old Hickory” Division, 76

Thomas, Fred, 141, 142, 148

Thompson, Denman, 43, 48; on work or fight rule, 105–6, 108, 109

Thorne, H. G., 10

“Three Inseparables,” 75

ticket prices, 137

Toledo Mud Hens, 18

Toney, Fred, 72, 85–86, 106–7, 179

Toronto Maple Leafs, 133–34

transportation costs, 101–2, 141

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 82

trenches, clearing, 173

Trontgla, Jess, 10, 12

troops: critical of sports back home, 111–12, 156; deaths among, 139–40, 167, 168–70; discharged, 175–76; French, military parade of, 206n25; heroism among, 157–59, 166–67; pace of deployment of, 161; World Series news sent to, 138

Troy, Robert Gustave “Bun,” 168

Truesdale, Frank, 120

Trumbull, Walter, 75

Tuscania (troop ship), 46

Tuthill, Harry, 11

Twenty-Fourth Infantry team, 221n37

Tyler, George, 143

Union League, 60–62

U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, 90–91

Vaughn, Jim “Hippo,” 107, 141, 142, 147

Vernon team, 182

Vila, Joe, 56, 86, 97

Virginia League (Class C), 22, 100–101, 112, 182

Viskniskki, Guy T., 212n47

Waidley, Jack, 10

“Wake Up, America!” campaign, 18

Walsh, Jimmy, 60

war: baseball as diversion from, xi; and baseball’s outlook, 20–21; declaration of, 15; news of, 82, 83; preparations for, 16–35

war agreement (National Baseball Association), 102

Ward, Aaron, 125

Ward, Chuck, 125, 173

war effort, civilian, 192–93

war “hysteria,” 97–98

war tax, 30

Washington Park, 135

Washington Senators, 19; 1918 opener, 83–84; and Bat and Ball Fund, 52; closing 1918 season, 133; military drilling of, 3; registering for draft, 28; and work or fight rule, 105–6

weather, baseball affected by, 30, 31, 54, 139

Webb, Erwin, 84

Weeghman, Charles, 19, 148

Weeghman Park, 138

Western Canada League, 182

Western League (Class A), 32, 102, 103, 182

Wheeler, Jack, 74, 180

White Mountain League, 41–42

White Slave Traffic Act, 85–86

Whittlesey, Charles S., 166, 168

Wild Waves, 121–23

Williams, Claude “Lefty,” 95, 178

Wilson, Woodrow: on baseball, 40–41; contributing to Bat and Ball Fund, 20; skipping games, 83; war declared by, 15

Wisener, Winfred B., 10

Witt, Lawton “Whitey,” 41–42, 60, 121, 123

Wolfe, Edgar, 150

Wood, Leonard, 1, 6

Woollcott, Alexander, 167

work or fight rule, 99–118, 134, 178, 192, 211n42; application of, to baseball, 105, 108–11; farming and, 217n63; industrial leagues benefiting from, 113, 114, 212n57; Minor Leagues and, 112–14; monetary loss stemming from, 109–10; public perception created by, 103, 177; timing of, 111, 115–17

World Series: 1907, 136; 1916, 136; 1917, 52–54, 137; 1918, 116–17, 136–49; canceling, 40, 41; critique of, 76–77; host cities, 136; labor disputes at, 142–43, 144–48; winnings from, 54, 76–77, 137; and work or fight rule, 116–17

World War II, 142, 194

Yankee Stadium, 194

yeomen, 60, 122–23

Yockelson, Mitchell, 73, 171

Young, Lemuel “Pep,” 149

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), 189; baseball equipment donated by, 48, 88; baseball league, 128; and Christy Mathewson, 87–89; War Work Council, 88

Zeider, Rollie, 149