As football reigned supreme in the fall programme of recreational sport,
and boxing in the winter, baseball furnished the greatest solace for the
men of the navy marooned from city and college games. Scattered through
the stations were former major and minor league and college players in
abundance, and nines, vying in their intrinsic strength with
major-league champions, were organized in every station. Jack Barry in
the Boston District, "Toots" Schultz in the Newport, Phil Choinard in
the Great Lakes, Davy Robertson in the Norfolk, Jack Hoey in the
Charleston, and Paul Strand in the Seattle Districts, were a few of the
stars of national reputation who headed the teams. More valuable,
however, to the true purpose of the organization of recreational sports
than the individual stars and the district teams were the leagues which
were formed in the respective stations, for they kept every naval base
engrossed in a wholesome athletic interest, and furnished natural
relaxation from the exacting drill and drudgery of every-day routine.
Track athletic stars of college and amateur athletic organizations were
scattered through every station, and the organization of track meets was
begun as soon as the men of the navy reached the camps. In October,
1917, before some 15,000 people, the track men of the Boston Station
took part in games on Boston Common, a track carnival was held in the
Harvard Stadium a month later, and in every station of the country track
tournaments were held during the season of 1918.
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