Evening star., 1898-04-15
Opening the National League Base
Ball Season.
CLOUDY WEATHER IN TEE EAST
Baltimores Arrive and Are Given a
Lecture by HanIon.
NO GAME HERE TODAY

Today Is the day of all days in the esti-
nation of great portion of the population
or the United States. Today Is the day
that thousands of devotees Of America s
national game have been looking forward
TO with pleasant anticipation for the past
three months. This afternoon the cham
pionship season Of the National League will
be opened. Twelve clubs that win battle
this year for the highest honors in base
ball will make their initial effort in the
championship struggle. The following is
today's schedule with the weather condf-
tions at IL o'clock:
Baltimore at Washington-Cloudy.
Boston at New York-Rain.
Brooklyn at Philadelphia-Cloudy.
Cleveland at Cincinnati-Ciear.
Pittsburg at Louisville Clear.
Chicago ut st. Louis-Clear.
From the weather indications sent out
by THE ticker service it would appear that
the east will get frost while the west
will be basking IN sunshine. The grounds
at National Park at noon today were In
bad shape and continued sunshine for sew
eral hours was deemed necessary to put 1t
In f1rst-class. or, in fact, playing condition.
Mr.. Wagner said he did not like to take
chances on hurting any of his players
through the grounds being slippery. and
also furnish a poor exhibition of the ma
tional game on the same account. At noon
the parade of the two clubs was Cancelled.
The Baltimore club. sixteen strong, ac-
about 200 enthusiasts. arrived in Washing
ton at 1:3O this morning, and were the
center of all eyes around the corridors OF
the Riggs House. DeMontreville and Nc
James. Of course. came in for the greatest
amount of attention from the local FANS
on account of their connection with the
Senators last year. but Kelley. Jennings
and McGraw were also surrounded by ad-
miring groups.
Manager Hanlon said to an Evening Star
reporter that he had the strongest team
ever under his management. and that the
people Of Baltimore had already tumbled
to this fact and were very enthusiasts
over the clubs prospects. DeMontrevill,.
McJames and McGann, the manager said.
had reported in first-class shape. and had
fallen in the Oriole ways almost at once.
The other men were also In the best con-
dition.
Mr. Hanlon said that had the weather
been good he would have brought fully 800
Baltimoreans over with the club, as tn,
present series between the Orioles and Sen
etors had awakened the old-time rivalry
and feeling
All the birds gathered together at II
o'clock I'm the big parlor on the second
floor Of the Riggs House, and conference
lasting over half an hour was held. Man.
ager Hanlon acted as chairman and first
speaker. while the old Baltimore stars en-
Enthusiastically chimed in with suggestions
duct on the field.
The Senatorial aggregation, still without
ReitZ. McHale and Wagner, assembled iii
the dressing room at the park this morning
and received their final instructions from
Captain Tom Brown.
Mr.. Wagner announced that in case of
postponement Of today's game the reserved
seats in the boxes secured for today would
hold over for Mondays game.
Mr.. Hanlon, when told of the condition
o, National Park at noon, said that he hal
not received any official word from Mr..
Wagner as to a postponement. but what
ever the local magnate decided would be
perfectly satisfactory to him.
No Game Today.
At 2 o'clock, after u consultation with
Captain Brown. Mr.. Wagner issued a bulle
tin to the effect that no game would be
played at National Park today on account
of the bad condition Of the diamond. Man
ager Hanlon was at once notified, and the
birds new homeward on a late train this
afternoon.
Magnate J. Earl Wagner has been in the
business for ten years. and this Is the first
time in his experience that the opening
to be postponed. The Baltimores will play
here Monday. making that game the OPEN
ing OF the season in Washington. and the
day will be pulled on then.
The Senators will leave on q morning
train tomorrow for Baltimore and play the
opening game in that city. Mercer or Amole
will do the twirling for the Washington