I find it fascinating how few Baseball players served during World War 1 (even former players)and how many Football stars served during the Great War. Several College Football Hall of Famers served and died during the War or were gassed like Mathewson and died shortly afterwards. Johnny Poe the great Princeton back of the 1890's was a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt in the Spanish American War and then died as a hero in World War 1. There are many others as well like Garrett Cochran and Charlie Barrett (both died) and even Fritz Pollard the NFL Hall of Famer (did not die) and Hobey Baker the Football great and Hockey Hall of Famer (He did die). I am not sure of the reason behind it, maybe because so many Football stars were Ivy Leaguers and it was more expected from that social class at that time, but I have no real reason why.
Rhys Yeakley
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