WWI/The Great War

[scooter729]

The 1918 baseball season was cut short, due to many players having to enlist in the war. The World Series was held in early September that year, I believe so players would be able to go fight in the war.

I recently read a book on Red Sox history which alluded to the fact that many Red Sox players did not enlist and continued to play ball, which led to two things: 1) fans being upset against the Red Sox for not enlisting when other players from other teams were serving, and 2) the Red Sox ran up a great record that season, using most of their regulars against other teams using replacement players for their stars who were serving.

[drc]

Many players were soldiers, but the American involvement in the war was short compared to WWII.

[iggyman]

In Ty Cobb's autobiography (My Life In Baseball) he describes the details of what happened on that eventful day when both he and Mathewson were exposed to mustard gas. Here is a quick read (with neat pictures):

http://www.baseballinwartime.com/chemical_warfare.htm

And since we are sorta' talking about baseball and WWI, I would recommend this book: "The Tour to End All Tours: The Story of Major League Baseball’s 1913-1914 World Tour,” written by James E. Elfers. Here is a quick summary:

http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2004/b...913071003.html

I really have no idea how people used to live without google.......must have been a primative time to live in???

Lovely Day...