The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-17

The National League playing season Of
1909 will open in four cities to-day under
far more suspicious circumstances than
were forecasted a month ago. The Pitts
burg Pirates. champions of 1901. will start
the ball rolling In. 81. Louis at League Park
this afternoon at $3.50 o'clock. Frank Selee's
Chicago Remnants will clash with the Gin
cinnati Reds. and in the East, Greater New
York will witness two games. Philadelphia
Will cross bats with the Giants and the re-
juvenated Boston team will bump up
against Ned Hanlon's ragged Superbas.
On form, the Pirates are "doped' TO take
four straight from Patsy Donovan's new set
of Cardinals. but those VINO have witnessed
the local exhibition games are eagerly
mapping up the odds offered on the chance
that Clarke's men will get away with more
than half tie games. The Pirates play four
to Chicago for a series that will end the
day before the opening of the American
League season here.
The race in the National League this
year will not be 50 uneven as 1t might
seem. Pittsburg is the only team that has
been undisturbed by the ravages Of con-
The Pirates will present practically the
same line-up as in their games here last
fall. AL OF the other teams are practically
new to Fandom. Several stars that shons
in the National last year will twinkle In
the American League armament this sea-
son. and there is a preponderance Of young
stars will undoubtedly be developed. New
York presents an array OF players prac-
ranks OF the Phi.adelphia, Boston and
Brooklyn teams contain many new faces.
Thanks to the efforts. of Patsy Donovan,
good investments thus far and are not to
be moderated. Chicago and Cincinnati
have expended much money for new men
and neither club has gained satisfactory
results
The Pirates and Cardinals will meet at
the Southern Hotel at Q o'clock this morn
ing and in full unifo m will parade the
downtown thoroughfares in carriages. ac-
companied by a band of music. There Will
be no formal ceremonies at League Park.
1.-THE people want to see the game started
as soon as possible. and when the bell rings
the game will begin without delay" stated
President Robson yesterday.
Fred Clarke and his Pirate crew arrived
from Kansas City yesterday and spent a
quiet day at the Southern Hotel. During
the afternoon Donovan called and paid his
respects and extended his sympathy to
S1srkf fh nn ad ~ = Sifr tor nne t os oe eamss' on h fSis
subject Clarke is in q peculiar position. He
IS carrying. nineteen good men and hates to
one unexpectedly one of the pitchers. For
the present Wild Conroy and Jimmie Burke
win be rated utility men. though the former
Wagner for the shortfield position. "schoo'-
master" Sam Lever or Deacon Philippe
will be delegated to do the twirling to-day.
day. and will be assigned to do the back
stop work to-day. Jimmie Burke also re-
ported. Burke looks as At as a fiddle, He
practiced with the Cardinals at League Park
yesterday and went a good clip.
Donovan might be better repaired for the
Pittsburg series, but he is not complaining.
"YBnk" Yerkes or Wicker will be the slab
performers; as Murphy is out Of 1t tenn
p%9orsrily witt q bad foot which he acct
two ago. Jack Ryan will do the catching,
with O'NeiTl in reserve. Nichols's split
hand VIII keep him out Of the game for ten
Will have to handle himself carefully to pre-
vent a reopening of the wound. Jack Far
rell has been of his feed for the last W
days, and unless he Is feeling better to-
day Brashear will guard the middle sack.
Kruger was spiked In one of the Indianap.
form at short. Joyce o'Neiil has not vet
taught his usual pace and may not be seen
in action until after the team returns from
its first trip abroad. Adams may be worked
in one Of the P%ittsburg games.
On account OF the shifting about Of the
curate line cannot be obtained upon the
fielding Of the men. Iii batting, "Wee VIII
1ies Popp has a perfect record. though he
time. Nichols out Of fifteen times up Sc
cured eight hits, giving him an average of
better than 800. Farrell performed consist
LILLY VIII me st,ck anu gives promise OF
being one OF the batting mainstays of the
team Hazleton went a good clip and In
three exhibition games with Indianapolis,
the three with Louisville, one with Kansas
City and two with st. Paul. secured three
triples and two doubles-the best extra-base
performance. Farrell and Barclay are cred
tied With a home run apiece. Hartman hit
well and secured his share of the extra,
base raps. Barclay in nine games stole five
bases. three OF them in the final tilt with
indianapolis. Smoot has three to his credit
IN the same number of games. As a rim.
getter Smoot was conspicuous. At bat thir-
ty-f1ve times In nine games, he scored
twelve runs. Barclay being second with ten
ures are based on the Cardinals perform.
ances in the. exhibition games, not Including
the first with Kansas City, in which SO
many men were used that a box score was
an impossibilfty, nor last Wednesdays
game between teams composed of the regu-
lars and substitutes:
PLAYER assn.s pr,. oa,.ihs Ih.ra S,olen