Gas, flame and baseball

The Chemical Corps of the United States Army is probably the only fighting force in the world that claims (according to its regimental song) to ‘rule the battle through the elements’. Founded as the Chemical Warfare Service in 1918, it was initially tasked with using poison gas on enemy positions (today, its mission is the opposite). By the end of the year – and the end of the war – it would be the military home to some of the greatest baseball players in the world. Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and Branch Rickey are all members of the US Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1918, all three traded in baseball for war, serving as officers in the ‘Gas and Flame’ division. And only two of them would come away unscathed…