Evening star. [volume], April 16, 1940, Page A-16, Image 16

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Baseball Swings Into Big Season Inaugural With Only Weather Out of Step
^ —■ ■ ■ ■ * - ■ ■■ ■ ■ ■ ' ■ ■■ -A - __^
Win. Lose or
By FRANCIS E. STAN.
The Red Sox Don't Talk Pennant
These Red Sox, who are supposed to have the most murderous
collection of sluggers in baseball, really aren’t so ferocious off the field.
They were behaving nicely in Ma Shoreham’s parlor last night. There
was a bridge game off in a corner and one of the boys, probably awed
at the swank, even removed his hat. Ted Williams had rushed to catch
an early movie. Dotty Lamour was playing, he had announced as he
trotted off. The rest either had fastened themselves to lobby chairs
or gone upstairs to read the new detective magazines.
The Red Sox don’t talk about the pennant. They are one of the two
clubs in the American League able to mention the 1940 flag without
being led, en masse, to the nearest bughouse. Only the Red Sox and
the Yankees are supposed to be in contention and over the winter and
during the spring a lot of experts have swung over to the Boston side.
But the Sox don’t talk about the World Series next October. Jimmy
Foxx reports that his sinus is coming along nicely. "Wasn’t it cold in
Florida before the first of March, too?" he was saying. Williams dis
courses animatedly about gaily flowered sarongs and King Haakon and
the fine winter the folks had back in San Diego. California. Even Joe
Cronin, manager, shortstop and author of "We'll Beat the Yankees!" in
the Satevepost, skirts flag talk.
They're Just Waiting on the Pitchers
There is a feeling, however, that Tom Yawkey’s seventh Red Sox
Is a grim gang of galoots with their minds set on licking the Yankees.
In some ways Mr. Yawkey has a better ball club than the world
champions. The Red Sox have a better all-around infield and they
pack more sheer power at the plate with a batting order that reads,
down the line, Dominic Di Maggio, Cramer, Foxx, Williams, Cronin, Doerr,
Tabor and Desautels.
There is the impression that here is a team ready to declare itself,
loudly and publicly, if it can be satisfied on one count—pitching. The
Red Sox have a pitching staff composed of Mose Grove, who used to
dawdle Dan'l Boone on his knee, and a lot of fellows named Joe.
The Joes are, for the most part, young fellows and untested. Some
of them are fresh from the minors and with fancy records. Herb Hash,
for instance, won 22 and lost 6 for Minneapolis last year. Wilburn '
Butland won 19 and lost 10 for the same club. A brash kid southpaw ,
named Mickey Harris won 19 and lost 3, or something approximately
as sensational, with Scranton.
Too Bad, Moans Joe, About Yanks' Luck
But Minneapolis and Scranton ana Louisville and Little Rock and
San Francisco are off the major league path. The Hashes, Butlands,
Harrises and, verily, little Di Maggio must prove themselves in big-time
company. The Sox are about ready to accept young Di Maggio as quite
a ballplayer, but they are withholding judgment on the pitchers. Yet
let Hash and Harris for instance, make good and team with Grove
end Emerson Dickman and this club which won't talk pennant might
well win it.
Cronin was making tracks for the newsstand when he was inter
cepted last night. “I just want to glance at the news,” he explained.
•‘I hear that Joe Di Maggio is out of the game. Isn't that too bad?”
He didn't forget to wink.
As a fellow who had proclaimed to the world that his Red Sox will
beat the Yankees, how did Mr. Cronin propose to do it and with whom j
in the pitching box?
"Well,” sidestepped Joe, neatly, "some of our fellows have been
having arm trouble. A lot was expected of Hash and Butland but they've
been having a little trouble. So we don't know much about them.”
'We'll Let It Work Itself Out'
This taken care of most adequately, how are the celebrated clinical
eases of Pitchers Woody Rich and Jim Bagby, jr.?
‘‘Okay, I suppose,” answered Joseph. “You ought to set this fellow,
Mickey Harris. Fresh from Scranton he comes, and is he fresh? He's the
original city slicker. He's the fellow I was touting early in March in
Tampa. Remember? He's a good looking left-hander.”
Inasmuch as the season happens to be starting, is there any clue as to
the four or five starting pitchers?
“Well, Emerson Dickman was our relief pitcher last year. He looks
60 good now I'm going to start him. Thefe's Grove and Dickman . . . and j
we ll let the rest work itself out. I see where Bucky Harris is gbing to
start Sid Hudson in the second game against us.”
It may well be that Cronin really doesn’t know how his pitching set
up will work out. The rebuilding program started by Yawkey seven
years ago has produced a heavy-hitting infield and a highly promising
outfield but the pitchers have been slow coming along. They may be on
the club this year with nobody as yet being able to separate the wheat
from the chaff.
Little Di Mag Is an Interesting Rookie
Among the Aokies of the major league season. Dominic Di Maggio Is
certain to rank high as a figure of interest. It was a fabulous record the
youngest of the Di Mags compiled last year for San Francisco in the
Pacific Coast League ... a great defensive mark, 239 hits made for 366
total bases, 164 runs scored and a .360 average.
He is a strange, deceptive looking chap, this 22-year-old kid brother
of Vince and Joe Di Maggio. He wears thick spectacles on and off the
field. Mingling with the other players he looks small and boyish. He
looks more like the batboy than one of the sluggers on the hardest-hitting
ball club in the game.
Yet Dominic has two of the requisites of a good, sharp hitter. He
has the batting Stroke and the shoulders. His shoulders are all out of
proportion to the rest of his physique. Here is where lies his power.
In addition, he has speed afoot and a knack of running the bases.
In these two respects he may outdistance Big Brother Joe. Despite an
ankle which he sprained in his second game this spring and which still
bothers him, Dominic has shown enough speed to become- the new lead-off
hitter. Doc Cramer, after years in the No. 1 spot, is dropped to second
while the sensational rise of Williams, who drove across 145 runs last year,
Is promoted to the clean-up post.
Cronin, who has been batting fourth, has no regrets as he opens a
new campaign with himself batting fifth. “I’ll hit ninth,” he was saying,
“if we keep adding power. And I’ll be glad to be down there.”
Colonials at Maryland,
G. U. at Navy Tomorrow
Two baseball games are on to
morrow’s collegiate sports schedule,
with George Washington invading
Maryland in the feature attraction.
Georgetown's forces invade Annap
olis for the annual diamond duel
Vith the Midshipmen.
Jim Kiernan, sophomore right
hander, has been nominated for
mound duty against the Tars, but
no pitching selections were an
nounced by Burt Shipley of Mary
land or Ed Morris of George Wash
ington.
Forgets Bad Back,
Rolls 300-730
GREEN' BAY, Wis. — Bert
Smits had a sore back and de
cided to quit for the evening al
though he bowled 192 in his first
game in a league series. A sub
stitute was lined up, but at the
last minute Smits decided to
continue. The next game he
rolled 12 straight strikes for a
perfect 300 and topped it off with
238 for a 730 total.
Spurns Trade of Reese for Medwick, McPhail Declares
*
Carrier Pigeon Now 10*1 in Derby; Rangers Get $ly200 Each and Bonus for Hockey Triumph
By EDDIE BRIETZ,
Associated Press Sports Writer.
NEW YORK. April 16.—Larry
MacPhail made everybody’s hair
stand straight up today by say
ing he could get Joe Medwick in
an even-up trade for Pee Wee
Reese, but isn’t interested. The
coast rumor foundry now has
Slip Madigan going into the
fight promoting business in Los
Angeles w’ith Ed Frayne, former
aide to Czar Mike Jacobs Foi
winning the Stanley Cup, the
New York Rangers each will re
ceive $1,200, plus a fat bonus
. from Madison Square Garden.
Carrier Pigeon, 30-1 a month
ago, has been backed down to
10-1 in James J. Carroll's Derby
future book. Andy K is 8-1 and
Bimelech 2-1. Carroll says both
Roman Flag and Mioland arc '
PC
getting better support than
Bimelech.
Today’s guest star—Dan Par
ker, New York Daily Mirror: “Bill
Terry’s name is missing from the
Sporting News’ fine new base
ball register because he de
manded compensation for being
included in the book.”
Humbert J. Fugazy, who tried
to buck Tex Rickard years ago,
wants to promote at Ebbets Field
this summer with Bob Pastor as
his ace. Pastor isn’t getting any
work from Mike Jacobs and is
ready to bolt. Ralph De John,
Syracuse light-heavy, has moved
into New York bag and baggage
and swears he won’t stir until he
gets a bout with Billy Conn.
Branch Rickey is blasting the
Shaughnessy playoff system in
the minora to mingled cheers
k
Nats' Initial Set
Is Rugged Test
For Slab Crew
Also Should Provide
Line on Flag Chance
Of Powerful Bosox
By FRANCIS E. STAN.
Given a break in the weather,
major league baseball was to open
today on eight scattered American
and National League fronts and nq
where was there a gaudier or more
important inaugural slated than here
at Griffith Stadium,
The eyes of the Capital, of course,
were on the Nationals—young, swift,
ambitious and on the comeback trail.
The eyes of the diamond world in
general, however, were focused on
the Red Sox—a murderous crew'
picked in some quarters as destined
to overthrow the mighty Yankees.
An event of the last 48 hours has
added import to the gala Griffith
Stadium festival which was to be
held today, providing the predicted
showers hold off. The Yankees’ Joe
Di Maggio is on the sidelines with a
sprained knee. It may be two weeks
before the slugger will be back in the
game. This blow, together with
Second Baseman Joe Gordon's pain
ful. if not disabling, ankle injury and
the loss of Outfielder Jake Powell,
lying in a Kentucky hospital with a
severe concussion of the brain, figure
to hurt the Yankees in the early
fight.
Yankees Left-Handed Heavy. I
In the meantime, what of the Red
Sox? Foxx, Williams, Cronin & Co.
are capable of making a lot of runs.
They always have manufactured
plenty. But can Bob Grove carry
on? And will Jim Bagby, jr., and
Woody Rich and Herb Hash pitch
winning ball?
Some of these questions were to
be answered, starting today, as the
Red Sox were to go against the Na
tionals’ slab ace, Dutch Leonard, and
the Griffmen were to face Grove.
The Boston-Washington pairing
was about the only good break the
champion Yanks have received
lately. Minus Di Maggio, they were
slated to face only the lowly
Athletics, but even in this series they
may run into trouble
Today in the Philadelphia opener
for the champions they were to face
Connie Mack's southpaw, Chubby
Dean. With Di Magg:io and Poweil
out, the Yanks’ remaining power is
on the left side of the plate—Selkirk,
Henrich and Keller in the outfield,
and Rolfe and Dickey Of the able
right-handers there is no outstand
ing slugger. Not among Dahlgren,
Crosetti and Gordon.
Haynes, Hudson Question Marks.
Sharing the spotlight today with
the Nats-Red Sox and A's-Yankees
openers were a pair of National
League games. The Cincinnati Reds
and the St. Louis Cardinals, who
have divided expert opinion this
spring, were to meet formidable
rivals. The pennant-winning Reds,
opening at home, were to entertain
the Cub team they dethroned last
year. The Cardinals, also opening at
home, were pitted against the Pitts
burgh Pirates, under the manage
ment of Frankie Frisch.
In the meantime, local interest
centers around the Griffmen. Leon
ard, winner of 20 and loser of only
8 games last year, apparently is set
for another big year, but the Wash
ington- problem is to find other
hurlers to keep pace with the big
knuckle ball exponent.
Provided the weather permitted
today’s game, light on the Washing
ton pitching situation will be shed
tomorrow when the Red Sox, still
here, face young Joe Haynes. This
hurler, along with Rookie Sid Hud
son from the Florida State League,
! supposedly will be teamed with
l Leonard by way of throwing right
handed pitching against the enemy.
Southpaws Saved for Champs.
It is the plan of Manager Bucky
: Harris to hurl the three right
I handers against the hard-hitting
Red Sox. a team loaded with right
handed hitters. The two ranking
southpaws of the club, Ken Chase
and Joe Krakauskas, will be saved
for later in the week, when the Nats
go to New York to play the Yankees
in a three-game series
Win or lose, Leonard’s status is
fairly certain. The fellow can pitch
major league ball. But Haynes has
yet to prove himself. As a rookie he
did well, considering physical ail
ments. But he wasn’t a big winner
and now, going into his sophomore
year, he must meet the test. What
Hudson will do can only be con
jectural. It’s a tremendous jump
from*the Florida State League to the
majors. Harris thinks he can make
the jump. Until American League
hitters have their say. this must be
regarded as good enough.
As for the two southpaws—Chase
and Krakauskas—this also is a test
year for them.
and jeers. Brooklyn put out
feelers for Dizzy Dean, but there
was nothing doing. If the Chi
cago Cardinals let Coach Jimmy
Conzelman pick his own assist
ants, one of them will be Chile
Walsh, former St. Louis U.
mentor.
Tee hee department. Max Baer
says he’ll stop Galento in May
and then make Joe Louis jump
out of the ring in September.
O. K., but we can’t help remem
bering the other time he fought
Louis—when Jack Dempsey had
to shove him oft his stool to get
him out for the second round.
When the hotel where the Min
neapolis ball club stayed became
plagued by skunks. Red Evans,
ex-Dodger screwball, got a .33
rifle and gpnnd the opening
FAR BETTER THAN BLITZKRIEGS
— —.— 1 -- — ■" 4
—By JIM BERRYMAN
3
Tiger, Brown Hurlers
Battle Old Outfits
In Season Debut
Tribe Opens in Chicago
First Time Since '04;
A's Eyes on McCoy
B> the Associated Press.
DETROIT, April 16.—Buck New
som, Detroit's 20-game winner of
last year, drew the mound assign- :
ment today for the Tigers’ opening
game against the St. Louis Browns.1
Newsom, a former Brownie, was to
face Slicker Coffman or Vernon j
Kennedy, both former Tigers.
A capacity crowd of 45,000 was
expected at Briggs Stadium, despite,
a forecast of cool, cloudy weather.
—
Feller to Face Chisox.
CHICAGO, April 16 Cleve- |
land's Bob Feller, leading game
winner of the American League last
season, was to face the Chicago
White Sox today as another pennant
race got under way.
The weather was chilly, with a
possibility of rain.
Southpaw Edgar Smith was Man
ager Jimmy Dykes’ choice to oppose
Cleveland, which was lo open the
season in Chicago for the first time
since 1904.
A's Draw Big Assignment.
PHILADELPHIA, April 16 (>T>).—
Twenty thousand persons were ex
pected at Shibe Park today to see
Connie Mack’s 40th edition of
the Athletics open the American
League's campaign to dethrone the
four-times champion New York
Yankees.
Cloudy weather and occasional
light rain was forecast.
Benny McCoy, high-priced second
baseman, playing his first game with
the A’s, was elected to lead off at
the bat for the Mackmen, probably
against the pitching of the Yanks’
Red Ruffing or Monte Pearson.
Southpaw' Chubby Dean was nomi
nated to start on the mound for
the A's.
under the building with bullets.
Mike Jacobs denies Joe Gould
will become his matchmaker, but
things are in the air. Mike, va
cationing in Hot Springs, prob
ably will drop around to see
Ownie Madden, former New York
big shot, now in retirement there.
Ownie used to be the No. 1 mem
ber of the Braddock-Gould brain
trust and still wields a lot of
influence. It’s a good long shot
that Gould's $104,000 suit against
Mike never gets to court. Extra—
Earl Housh, Oklahoma oil baron,
shot two holes-in-one in two
weeks.
By the by, didn’t somebody out
in Chicago say last winter the
first move in the 1940 Cub shake
up would be the release of Mrs.
Dlagr?
Frisch Tosses Bucs at Cards
He Last Led to Flag; Giants
Revamped for Title Chase
By the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, April 16.—'The Cardi
nals, National League pennant win
ners on paper, today were to begin
the title drive on the diamond
against the Pittsburgh Pirates,
whose manager, Frankie Frisch, led
St. Louis to its last championship. i
League batting king, Johnny Mize,
a convalescent, was to start at first
base, but there was a possibility an
ailing back would force his slugging
Redbird mate, Joe Medwick, to miss
the opener. Showers were forecast.
Giants Using New Cast.
NEW YORK, April 16 <£»).—'The
New York Giants brought a new
cast back to the old stand today to
open the baseball season in Man
hattan against the Phillies. New
comers in the starting line-up are
Johnny Rucker, sensational young
center fielder; Mickey Witek at
second base and Babe Young at
first. In addition, Burgess White
head has moved from second to
third.
Carl Hubbell was listed to do the
pitching against Kirby Higbe. Al
though showers threatened, a crowd
of about 35.000 was expected.
Bees in 65th Season.
BOSTON, April 16 (/Pi —Weather
permitting, the Bees were to launch
their 65th season as Boston’s Na
tional League baseball entry today
against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The
forecast, however, was unfavorable.'
Manager Casey Stengel has nomi- I
nated Bill Posedel. his most effective
1939 pitcher, as his opening game
starter and the Dodgers were ex
pected to counter with Whitlow
Wyatt.
Gov. Leverett Saltonstall of Mas
sachusetts was scheduled to open
the season by tossing the first pitch
to Mayor Maurice J. Tobin of Bos
ton.
Cincinnati Baseball Mad.
| CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 16 (JP).—
! A weather forecast of showers
threatened to spoil the Cincinnati
Reds’ opener today with the Chi
cago Cubs.
The prediction, however, didn’t
stall a rush for 3,000 standing-room
tickets. The 35,000 seats have been
sold for months.
Gov. John W. Bricker was to toss
i out the first ball.
- |
Hollingsworth Gains Favor
Impresses Manager Harris for Second Time;
10,000 Seats on Sale at Park Today
As the Griffmen today prepared
to start a new American League
pennant race the boss man,
Bucky Harris, was intrigued by
the possibilities of a cast-off Na
tional Leaguer. ... He is Pitcher
A1 Hollingsworth, the southpaw
who was procured a few days ago
from the Brooklyn Dodgers on a
30-day trial. . . . Hollingsworth
pitched batting practice before
the rains came yesterday and at
the conclusion of the drill Harris
said: “He still looks good to me.
I've seen him work out twice and
both times he’s had something on
the ball.”
Prior to the stick drill the Nats
posed for photographers. . . . In
cluded was the official squad
pose. . . . Somewhere there must
be ball clubs with more photo
genic faces.
The Grifls this morning were
rooting for no postponement of
the opener with the Bed Sox. ...
Last year the Washington inau
gural was rained out. . . . The
team went to Philadelphia and
returned three days later to put
on a belated opener here. . . .
President Roosevelt failed to show
for the first time since 1933 and
Vice President John Nance Gar
ner threw out the first ball. . . .
The Nats lost to the Yankees, 6-3.
Mr. Roosevelt is the luckiest
President of them all for Wash
ington clubs. . . . Only once, in
1937, did P. D. R. ever see the
baseball Senators licked. ... All
. other times they either won or he
had to leave the park before the
game was over.
Thla morning there remained
8.000 reserved bleacher seats and
2.000 standing room tickets for
sale. . . . Otherwise, the ball park
is sold out. . . . It's been sold out
for weeks, too. F. E. S.
College Sports
Baseball.
Virginia, 2; Virginia Tech. 1.
North Carolina. 14. V. M. I., 2.
Roanoke 8: Lynchburg. 7.
Washington and Lee. 9; William and
Mary. 7.
Wake Forest. 9: South Carolina. 3.
Uosala. 7: John Marshall, 4.
Western Kentucky. 12; David Lips
comb. 1.
Western Michigan Teachers. 7; Wiscon
sin. 4.
Tennis.
Washington and Lee, 7: George Wash
ington. 2.
Johns Hopkins. 5: American U.. 4.
V. M. I., 9: William and Mary, 0.
Lacrosse.
Washington and Lee. 7: Westchester
Teachers. 0.
Boilng.
Superior Teachers. 6’/k: North Dakota
0.. 1 y».
Sailing.
Navy. 96: Rayerford, 48.
■--—■— -i
RACES TODAY ,
HAVRE 4c GRACE .
Special Penna. train leaves Union Sta
tion 13:30 pm. 4ireet to Track. B.
A O train leaves 13 noon. E. 8. T.
FIRST RACE AT 8:30 F.M.
M Buy on Merit /19401
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Amaiinr Fluid Drive—Only 838.00
Snrprlsinc Trade on Tour Car
PAUL BROS. w,a
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Tribute Paid Rockne
As Capital Joins in |
Notre Dame Night
Stuhldreher, Old Grid
Star, Among Speakers
Lauding Late Coach
Some 200 alumni and friends of
Notre Dame joined in celebration of
Universal Notre Dame Night last
night at the Shoreham Hotel, where, i
between forkfulls, they heard the
famous South Bend School and the i
late Knute Rockne. its immortal
football coach, extolled.
Harry Stuhldreher. quarterback
of the famed Four Horsemen back
field and currently head football
coach at the University of Wiscon
sin, delivered the principal address.
Dr. Maurice Sheehy, head of the
department of religion at Catholic
University, spoke of his association
with Rockne, whose death he classed
as a loss to every lover of sport.
Brian Bell, witty veteran news
paperman; Edward M. Curran, new
local United States attorney: Dutch
Bergman. Catholic University ath
letic director: Representative Rob- ;
ert A. Grant of Indiana and Dr.'
Robert White, dean of Catholic
University Law' School, were others
who addressed the gathering.
William D. Jones, president of the
Notre Dame Club of Washington,
was toastmaster at the banquet,
which was climaxed by a transcrip
tion broadcast from Detroit of ad
dresses by Father Hugh O’Donnell,
acting president of Notre Dame, and
Elmer Lay den, present Notre Dame
football coach and another of the
Four Horsemen.
Softies Seek Settos
Carr Bros. ’ & Boswell softball
team is booking games through
Ralph Frey at Greenwood 1466-W
between 5:30 and 7 o'clock.
5.50- 17_$6.25
6.00- 16_6.75
6.50- 16_8.95
7.00- 16_9.95
Including old tiros
IS Months Unconditional Guarantee!
cash »f cwsfflT mm
All Clubs Except
Yankees, Cards
At Peak to Go
Di Mag Out of Fourth
Opener in 5 Years;
Stu Martin Idles
Bv JUDSON BAILEY,
Associated Press Sports Writer.
NEW YORK, April 16.—Menacing
clouds cast the get-away of base
ball's 16 major league clubs into
gloom and uncertainty today, but
all were chafing for the chance to
spring into action.
The weather, fair and cold
throughout the East and Midwest
over the week end, turned traitorous
on the eve of the opening and not
a single game was safe from the
threat of the elements as the flag
raising time approached.
From every one of the inaugural
sites came the same report—cola,
cloudy and showers threatened.
Whether any of the games were to
be played depended largely on when
the showers started—early or late
nt the respective cities.
The schedule called for theso
eight openers:
American League. National League.
Boston at Wash. Chi. at Cincinnati
N. Y. at Phila. Pittsbgli at St.L.
Cleve. at Chicago Phila. at N. Y.
St. L. at Detroit Br'klyn at Boston
Yanks Start Under Handicap.
In each case the games were
listed as the first of a three-game
series, and any interference in the
lid-lifting today would merely post
pone the ceremonies until tomor
row, with the cast and scenery
unchanged. If all eight games es
caped trouble today upward of
150.000 fans were expected to be
present to give their favorites a
proper send-off.
Naturally the debut of last year's
champions was the chief spectacle
in each league.
The four times American League
and world champion New York
Yankees went to Philadelphia with
out Joe Di Maggio and handicapped
by other injuries. It was the fourth
time in five years the great out
fielder had been absent from an
opening, so the fact that he was
in New York nursing a twisted
knee could hardly be considered
! vital.
However, Red Ruffing was hit by
a batted ball in practice yesterday,
making his start also doubtful; Joe
Gordon has been out of the line
up for two weeks with a Charley
horse and Reserve Outfielder Jake
Powell is convalescing from a brain
concussion.
Manager Joe McCarthy planned
| to use Monte Pearson if Ruffing
was unable to play today, and
Connie Mack countered with Lefty
j Chubby Dean.
Reds Yearn for Opening Win.
At Cincinnati the Cincinnati Reds
were ready to start the defense of
their National League title In a
game with the Chicago Cubs that
was sure of a capacity crowd of
approximately 35.000. Reserved seat
tickets have all been sold for months,
although the Reds have lost every
opening game in the last eight
years.
Two of the finest hurlers in the
senior circuit, Paul Derringer of
the Reds and Bill Lee of the Cubs,
were the mound choices.
Aside from these two attractions,
the annual test of President Roose
velt's pitching prowess in the Boston
Red Sox's appearance at the Nation *
Capital was the day's best sideshow.
When the Nationals’ No. 1 fan got
through throwing, Dutch Leonard
was scheduled to take over for a
duel with Lefty Grove.
The biggest turnout of the after
noon was expected in Detroit, where
Tiger officials prepared to handle a
throng of 40.000 persons. Manager
Del Baker of the Bengals listed
Charley Gehringer for duty at sec
ond base, a hopeful sign for Detroit
fans, and planned to pitch big Buck
Newsom against Vernon Kennedy
of the St. Louis Browns.
Big Turnout for Cards.
The other American League tussle
was to serve as young Bob Feller *
springboard to a big year. The Chi
cago White Sox relied on Ed Smith,
a southpaw, to stop the Indians.
St. Louis, butt of much abuse
about the poor attendance at its
baseball games during the season,
has had the biggest opening day
sale in history for the Cardinals’
debut against the Pirates. If the
weather was agreeable the crowd
was likely to be 18.000 or 20.000. But
Manager Ray Blades had so many
troubles he got little joy at this
prospect.