Tinker to Evers to Berlin . . .

Evers and Soldiers Pick Site

in Berlin for World Series

—

“Fighting Trojan” Says Baseball

Makes Them Forget Horrors

of the War.

—

MANY STARS IN THE ARMY, HE

WRITES FROM PARIS.

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(There is little room for dispute when Johnny Evers, of the Famous “Tinker, to Evers, to Chance” combination, is called the best second baseman baseball ever produced. After leaving the Chicago Cubs he went to Boston, and was captain of the Brave when they won the World Series in 1916.)

By JOHNNY EVERS.

PARIS (By mail).—One point which the United War Work Campaign ought to make clear to the American public is that when the American soldier isn’t busy fighting he is putting energy and “pep” into his recreation pursuits. He proved a hard fighter in battle and a strenuous contestant in games. He’s hard to beat in either.

Aptly illustrating this is the story told of a party of “Yanks” who, relieved from the fighting lines, were en route to a village where they could rest a few days. While waiting for motor trucks they started a game of baseball, getting the equipment from a convenient Knights of Columbus building. In a few minutes three thousand young Americans were excited spectators. With them the recent battle with the Hun was history. They had licked him and that was enough.

Maintains Morale.

This is what helps to maintain morale, and the need for baseball and other forms of recreation is clearly recognized by the K. of C. to their war relief activities. That is why the Knights have sent overseas so many men notable to the athletic world. They are needed to direct sports.

I modestly ask to be listed as a “notable” because of my long connection with big league baseball in the United States. The boys in the army wanted baseball, and that’s why I’m here.

I find the men just as keen for baseball before a battle as they are after, and it certainly helps to keep their minds off the serious work ahead for them. Officers know the value of this, and they tell me that frequently before they lead their men “over the top” they purposely start a discussion among the men regarding baseball or baseball players.

My ambition to stage a world series in Paris or somewhere nearer the fighting lines didn't materialize, but we have enough baseball to keep the boys satisfied.

When I came overseas I expected, of course, to find that athletic entertainments were popular, but I confess I am amazed at the extent of this popularity. Every spare minute they have, if the weather permits, they are engaged in some out door sport. Baseball, wrestling, boxing, tennis, running, jumping, walking, medicine ball and even ping pong claim their attention, and the result is that there is not as fine a body of athletes in the world as Uncle Sam's warriors. Champions? I’ll wager I can pick a team of all around athletes from the United States army to-day that can defeat any other aggregation of men possible to collect.

One of the best things the Knights and the Y. M. C A. did in their vast war activities was to supply the great amount of baseball equipment, which they did for the men. It’s in use every daylight hour. It’s as important as the work done by the Y. W. C. A. and the supplies sent by the Jewish Welfare Board, the American Library Association and the Salvation Army.

Our soldiers are arranging athletic contests for the time when they get into Berlin. Maps of the German metropolis are available here, and some of the soldiers and I have already selected parks, parade and drill grounds where the American national game will be played.

New York Telegram, December 1, 1918.