EAGULTL.
THE ey va FOR MEN

919 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
CHICAGO

November 15, 1941.

ARNOLD GINGRICH , EDITOR

Dr.. Forrest C. Allen
Virector of Athletics
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas.

Dear Dr, Allen:

The vague idea I had about the baseball piece was along the lines of ways

and means to build up college baseball, rather than considering the game

in the high schools. However, there is probably a better article, provided
you wanted to dabble in it, in the under-ground tie-ups of the college coaches
with the big league ball clubs. An expose of that, I believe, would stir

up considerable interest. I would say, though, that it is a question whether
you would desire to tie your name and reputation to just such an expose.

I am wondering, too, vaguely whether there are any possibilities in
considering the probable future effect of the army on college athletics,

or American sports in general. Unquestionably there will be decisive changes,
if our war program has to continue for very many years; but I just don't
myself foresee exactly what those changes are likely to be. Possibly you
do.

You understand that I am largely fly-catching at the moment. I thought

your basketball piece worked out swell--a smooth job; and would like very

much to have some other articles from you. However, don't let my meanderings , *
mislead you. I would prefer to rely on your judgment on what you have in

mind that would work up into a useful article for us.

Your basketball piece--to my way of thinking--was an ideal job; and I was

groping for a way to translate the same technique into some phase of baseball--

not necessarily even college baseball, either. Baseball, in general, as I see

it, right now faces two very serious problems. First, the war; and secondly,

the shortage of material in the on-coming generations. The colleges look like

the last oasis, and if they are more or less polhuted by too much subsidagation,
from the majors, the situation may grow progressively worse. The American Leg ehen
did unquestionable good with their program, but even it is not emough. Baseball

is too good a game to be allowed to deteriorate, and if some one can point the

way to salvation it would be a very real service . . . and incidentally a very

good magazine article. ~

If this leads up to any thoughts in your mind, rest assured I would be most
pleased to see you develope then.

Cordially,

Fat aint