...Secretary of War Newton Baker issued his well-known "work or fight" order in 1918. Baseball was not exempt: a season truncated at Labor Day was allowed to finish, with the World Series to follow--and all major league players were expected to either work in essential industries or put on a uniform.
As we all know, the Great War ended in November 1918, and there was never a question about playing the full 1919 season. However, let's suppose that the armistice in November 1918 failed, and the "work or fight" order was still in effect when March 1919 rolled around. Would the season be cancelled outright, or postponed?
And suppose that an armistice had been reached in, say, May 1919? Would the order have been rescinded, allowing a truncated season to begin on, say, Independence Day? And if so, what would have been the effects on the pennant winners, to say nothing of whether or not the Black Sox scandal would have been butterflied away?
As we all know, the Great War ended in November 1918, and there was never a question about playing the full 1919 season. However, let's suppose that the armistice in November 1918 failed, and the "work or fight" order was still in effect when March 1919 rolled around. Would the season be cancelled outright, or postponed?
And suppose that an armistice had been reached in, say, May 1919? Would the order have been rescinded, allowing a truncated season to begin on, say, Independence Day? And if so, what would have been the effects on the pennant winners, to say nothing of whether or not the Black Sox scandal would have been butterflied away?