The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-15
New York, Brooklyn, Gin
oinnati, and Pittsburg De-
fer Their Opening Until
Tomorrow = Hopes Run
High.
President Pulliam Looks
Forward to Most Success
full Season in History Of
the Came-Line-Up of
the Teams.

This afternoon The season OF 1893. for
National League baseball clubs. the
twenty-eighth OF is history. is schcd-
uIod 10 open. Weather conditions are
unpromising. however. and the Phila-
delphia- Boston game may be postponed
While Washington has no representative
IN this august body. yet, nevert heIess.
intense interest is manifested in It's
operations. The inauguration of the
season IS not general. however. since
only four clubs line up today. Chicago
plays al 81 Louis, and Boston viii cross
bats with The PhilIies on the latter-s
native heath.
Brooklyn vs.. New York, in Gotham.
and Pittsburg at Cincinnati. defer their
opening until Thursday. Already hopes
run high in each league city, and the
fans are busiIy engaged in specializing
on their respective favoTite's chances
Pulliam Talks Ball
President PuIliam has already given
out the statement that the coming sea
son viii be the most successful in the
history of the game, and furthermore
sa-s:
I think the ending of the so-called
baseball war has met The hearty ap-
prevail OF the public. BY reason Of this
war certain Objectionable practices were
SO prevalent that the integrity OF the
game itself was threatened. The change
OF ownership IN Philadelphia and Gin
cinnau and the new blood Infused into
the leagues councils through the en-
trance of such high-cIass sportsmen into
professional baseball has been 10 the
great advantage of the National League
as a body
From q playing sense it is certain
that owing 10 The fact the teams are
more evenly balanced, a repetition OF
last years one-sided championship race
Is out CT the question. I look 10 see a
most interesting race for the champion
snip OF 1903.
1T is assured our patrons that the
contests of the National League viii be
on clean and sportsmanlike basis and
that rowdyism OF any character will not
be tolerated.
St. Louis fans already claim the Ma
tIonaI pennant Not satisfied with this
modest prediction. they assert that its
American League team is the best of
the lot in that body, and the coveted
banner viii float from the flagstaff in
Ibe-corneF Of its park.
When the BrookIyns line Up against
the New Workers in the opening game
al the Polo Grounds, they viii present
an almost entirely new front
OF the twenty men whom HanIon win
have on the field, only four have been
in the Superba outfit one or more sea
sons. The rest are altogether new re-
cruits
The pitching department is entirely
new. Ahern is veteran OF only one
year among the eatehers-
or the infelders. Dahlen and Flood
are known TO Brooklyn fans, and in the
outheId. Jimmy SbeCkard alone has play
ed there before
Pittsburg met defeat at the hands of
the Louisville aggregation a few DAYS
since. and this augurs poorly for the
Smoke Town team. It's pitching stan
has been materially weakened by the
loss OF Chesbro and Tannehin 10 the
New York American League Club. yet.
wlthal the club IS composed Of q lot
OF hustling players and they may yet
give Cincinnati run for The money.
Look Like Winners.
on paper the Porkers are q fine lot
Their pitching corps Is about the best
II the league. and has been greatly
strengthened b. the addition OF Harper
With such veterans behind the bat as
Bergen and PETIT to steady the new
twirIers unexpected developments may
be looked for in that quarter. Kelly IS
slated for the Outfeld. but ne may yet
decide 70 come in and cover first. which
VIII materially strengthen the team
although Jake BeCkley is born first
bssemau.
The s. Louis team looks we'll on pa
per and should finish about third;
Brooklyn. New York, Philadelphia. Chi
cago. and Boston Ia the order named
Two Clubs Sized Up.
Two Of the National League teams
have played ia Washington this season.
the PhtIIies AID BrookIrns. and third.
The Bostons. were knocked cut Of their
game with she Senator's by rain The
local fans can't figure out why Wash
inEton's team is not stronger than both
Of those seen.
Philadelphia was easy. as was Brook
lyH. IN its frs; game The second game
was practically a gift 10 the Bride
gToOms since the Senators had II safely
Won and then threw il away. So with
this line on Philadelphia and Brooklyn
f IS impossible 10 predict g brilliant
career for either n the coming race.
The American League season opens
one week from today. The TWO
races can be watched with equal in
reFest. and q relative line kept or the
two bodies.