The year was 1918. What was once thought to be a brief war—’over by Christmas’—had now dragged into its fourth grueling year. And now finally after the sinking of RMS Lusitania, with a reported over 120 American passengers on board now at the bottom of the Ocean, The United States is now formally joined the war on the side of Britain & France. The U.S. Army, needing all hands on deck, has formalized a draft system, selecting eligible citizens for Military Service fighting in Europe. However, the Wartime draft did not exempt Baseball players.
A total of 10 players from the LBL’s Pittsburgh Oilers’ had been Drafted to take part, all of them previously preparing in Spring Training before they received the Call to Arms. Five Young Hopefuls had been drafted into War: 22 Year old Harvey Shone who was picked up by the Oilers’ farm team, the Allentown Outlaws signed out of college without going through the amateur draft, 24 Year old Jay Leggott coming out of a brief foray into the Bigs last season, 23 year old Milan Emblen who the Oilers organization recently acquired from the Brooklyn Whales, 22 Year old New Orleans Native, Thomas Bell, was a recent draft pick by the Oilers, and finally 19 Year old Wayne Walker coming into his 2nd year as a ballplayer.
Major Leaguers who had been drafted, 28 Year old Outfielder Dewit Avery who has been a Fan Favorite in the Oilers’ will be sorely missed, particularly one young fan wrote on a poster on Dewit’s last game before he was escorted off the Spring Training field after word was revealed of him going to war, “Bye, Bye, Dewy!”
Other Players of Note was 30 Year old Starting 3B Leroy Earnshaw, born in Morristown, Tennessee. Coming off of a 2.1 WAR season but he’s been known as a indolent type in the clubhouse. One Player commented on the condition of anonymity, “Hopefully the War will give him a sense of motivation for both his country and for the ballclub”.
Backup Catcher Dave Halpenny, coming off from his first year as an Oiler will be joining the ranks in Wartime Service. Finally, a 21 Year old of Longmont, Colorado, rookie pitcher Martin Hoyt who appeared to be on the cusp of making the Opening Day Roster for the season, will have to bide his time as he too was drafted into Wartime service.
Reportedly, Luciano Anderson was also named among those in the Oilers into the draft, but reportedly has now been given his release shortly before his name came up on the Wartime draft.
As the 1918 season dawns, the Pittsburgh Oilers find themselves fielding a team not just against league rivals, but against the sobering reality of a world at war. The loss of ten men—teammates, prospects, clubhouse characters—will be felt deeply on the diamond and in the dugout. Yet, as trains roll eastward and ships depart for Europe, they carry with them not just soldiers, but the very spirit of America’s pastime.
In these uncertain times, baseball remains a thread of normalcy, even as it bids farewell to some of its own. Here’s hoping that when the war drums finally fall silent, those who left the field in uniform will one day return to hear again the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd.