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WWI K-C War Chest
Official National
League Spalding
Baseball |
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Item Details |
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CIRCA
- 1919
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MANUFACTURER-
Spalding
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SIZE
- 5
ounce, 9
inches
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PRICE GUIDE
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$750.00 - $1,000.00
Very Good - Excellent
Condition
Because of
scarcity and lack
of sales data the
value is estimated
based on selling
prices of the
Y.M.C.A baseballs
from WWI
Information
Provided by:
Keymancollectibles.com
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Days after the U.S. entered the first
World War in April of 1917, President
Woodrow Wilson created a new Federal
Agency, the Commission on Training Camp
Activities. The program was designed to
clean up the immoral influences
associated with encampments and their
surrounding communities. It was a great
concern to the American Family, for the
moral destruction of their sons, and
husbands going off to war. The program
would help surround our troops with a
healthy, cheerful environment, and to
ensure the purity of the camp
environment. Training camps would then
mold not only soldiers, but model
citizens who after the war would return
to their communities spreading urban
middle-class values throughout the
country.
Almost immediately organizations such as the Knights of Columbus the YMCA,
the YWCA, the Jewish Welfare Board, the
Salvation Army, and the American
Library Association worked to supply
recreational services and raise money
for equipment. The WWI "bat and ball
fund" was started. Shortly after the
CTCA - Commission on Training Camp
Activities was in place, Washington
Senators owner Clark Griffith launched
a plan to support our troops by raising
money to purchase athletic equipment.
mostly baseball gear, to outfit every
U.S. military training camp.
The Knights of Columbus was active in raising money for the Bat & Ball
fund, which was contributed to the
Y.M.C.A. through the Red Cross. In 1918
Money was allotted to the Knights of
Columbus to send secretaries to France
that would take supplies referred to as
"War Chests" to the front, and set up
"recreation Huts." This caused
controversy in the press because the K
of C was a Christian group and money
was being donated by Americans not of
the Roman Catholic church. They accused
the Knights of stealing money from the
YMCA and Red Cross in order to fund its
activities on behalf of “the papal
government." All in all, it was for a
good cause and was sanctioned by both
President Woodrow Wilson and the War
Department Commission on Training Camp
Activities. All soldiers regardless of
faith were welcomed to the K of C
recreation huts.
During their first month the Knights of Columbus passed out 37,719 cartons
of chocolate; 25,250 cartons of chewing
gum; 14,772 baseballs, 2,286 sets of
boxing gloves, and 1,687 football; 10
million sheets of writing paper and 8
million envelopes. The
baseball bats
branded with the Knights of Columbus
"K-C" shield were shipped to France by
a number of Knights of Columbus
secretaries.
In August of 1918, serving in France as a Knights of Columbus Field
Secretary, and Athletic Director, Cubs
second baseman Johnny Evers of the
famed Tinker to Evers to Chance double
play combo, was sent to France by the
Knights of Columbus, along with 200
other secretaries. Evers and the other
secretaries were sent "over there" with
a trunk ('War Chest') which was packed
with a complete set of athletic
paraphernalia, footballs, boxing gloves
and tennis sets. The trunk also
included four baseball bats, two indoor
baseball bats, two dozen baseballs, two
catchers mitts, seven fielders gloves,
and one chest protector. Evers as well
as the other secretaries, had their set
replaces as often as necessary.
The teams that were put together by the Y.M.C.A and the Knights of
Columbus, put Evers in charge. The team
started a tour in September with the
first game played in Paris against a
team recruited from the Paris League
clubs, which consisted of players who
played in the minor leagues before
going abroad. In November and December
the tour moved to Southern France where
the weather was more favorable.
Although the war ended in November, the
boys were still "over there" and needed
help to see them through until their
return. The team played against
Hospital staff for the benefit of
wounded warriors.
Evers pitching staff consisted of famous major league players, that
included: Grover Cleveland Alexander;
ex Dodger pitcher Sherrod Smith, Leon
Cadore of the Dodgers, who was serving
as a Lieutenant in the Army, Otis
Lambeth a former Indian, and Charley
Noyes who was one of Connie Mack's
Spring Crop of youngsters on the
Athletics the year before. Catcher Hank
Gowdy formerly of the Boston Braves,
had the honor of being the first ball
player to enlist in the Army. The
infield included the Cardinals Dots
Miller. Evers was slated to cover
second base. Athletics Cy Bates at
third, and former Dodger Chuck Ward at
Short. The outfield comprised of Mike
Menosky and Same Rice of the Senators,
one time Indian Miller, and Lee Magee.
Cardinals Manager Jack Henddricks
joined the team in October.
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WWI K-C 'War Chest'
Official National League
Spalding Baseball |
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KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
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