In January 1918, the horrors of World War I were in their final year, and MLB was preparing for its 16th season. But beneath the surface, another deadly battle was brewing: the "Spanish flu." https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-spanish-flu-baseball-1918-f498f2d4-7726-4a02-a5f5-59c63d982764.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sports1918thread&utm_content=1100

Around the time that soldiers in Kansas first reported flu-like symptoms, Congress passed the Sedition Act, making it a crime to say or publish anything that cast the government or the war effort in a negative light. So, as the virus began to spread, the nation wasn't told.

With so many players having already left to aid the war effort, teams scrambled to replace them. Who left and who remained shifted the balance of power in baseball — and led to the rise of baseball's greatest legend: Babe Ruth.

Amid war and influenza, the greatest hitter in baseball history was finally given an opportunity to, well, hit. In May, Ruth got the flu and rapidly deteriorated after being treated with silver nitrate. Fortunately, he made a full recovery and got back to mashing.

By the numbers:
• 60-70% of flu-related deaths occurred between Sept.-Dec.
• Not wearing a mask was illegal in some places
• Ruth returned to Baltimore after the season and came down with the flu again
• There were no asymptomatic cases: you felt very sick within ~24 hours

Imagine for a second that the coronavirus has stopped wreaking havoc across the globe and health officials have said that it's safe to resume ordinary activities.

That's what happened during the last months of 1918 — and that's how the flu's third wave began.

At some point in the next few months, leagues and offices will clamor to re-open and citizens will be eager to return to normalcy. When that time comes, it's worth remembering the dangers of the "third wave." https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-spanish-flu-baseball-1918-f498f2d4-7726-4a02-a5f5-59c63d982764.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sports1918thread&utm_content=1100

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