The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-21
AMERICAN LEAGUE SEASON
FORMALLY OPENS TOMORROW
Clarke Griffith, With His
New York Aggregation, to
Be the Guests of the Sen
ators for Balance of Week.
Complete Roster of Players
and Their Playing and Bat
ting AVerages-HoW They
Look on Paper.

Tomorrow the American League base
ball season for 1903 begins in earnest,
two games were played in Boston yes
terday between the Beaneaters and the
Athletics, these because of Patriots Day.
which is generally observed at the Hub,
and a large crowd was assured. Clarke
Grifith's New York team will be the
Senator'S guests for the balance Of the
week.
The season OF 1903 opens more aus
piciously than any OF its predecessors.
both in matter Of circuit and playing
ability. Baltimore, once an American
League city. has faded into oblivion. and
in its place looms up New York. where
a team OF unusual strength has been
placed and viii doubtless prove the
heaviest money Garner in the circuit. All
that is needed to fulfill this prediction
is good, fast, hustIing team, the pub
lie will do the rest
New York has ever been baseball mad
but with the crippled aggregation, under
Andy" Freedman's regime, to repre-
sent Gotham, the fans ardor cooled
apace, only 70 be revived when John Nc
Graw startled the baseball world with
his grand coup in selling out the Balti-
more American League team, and en-
tering New York at the head of a band
OF the best players from the defunct
club. and assuming the helm Of the
Giants team.
The addition Of New York to the Amer
lean ranks viii prove a boon in more
ways than one Not only viii it prove
q far better paying city than Baltimore.
but it viii obviate the necessity of a
long jump, such as from Washington to
Boston. The Eastern points are now
within an easy riding distance, and the
schedule does away with long, tedious,
and expensive trips
The circuit in the West remains IN
changed, and altogether prospects are
the national game.
Purveyors of Dope.
Speculation has been rife as 10 the
probable finish OF the clubs, ever since
spring practice first began. Baseball
writer's The country over have worked
overtime in dealing out dope in both
homeopathic and anopathic doses for
their readers to digest. These predic-
lions have more or less been founded
upon the form shown by the American
League clubs against opponents, in some
cases National League clubs, and in
other Instances college OF minor
league teams and even sand-Iotters,
where more formidable foe could not
be found, together with just how team
looks on paper.
When one of these teams, Ly chance,
puts up an exceptionally good game, the
baseball scTibes Of the particular city
10 which the team belongs would
straightaway enter into a long and hys-
terical dissertation upon the briIHaucy
OF the clubs work, and get busy in
formulating a table showing just how
the teams would finish the season. and
Invariably placing the home club at the
head Of the list
As a matter Of fact, there are about
2048 combinations TO be worked out Of
an eight-club league, and already this
number has been exhausted by the base
bah writer's at large
With but few exceptions Washington
has been picked to finish last in the race,
and only in two cases has it been slated
10 inishas well as sixth. Since form writ
ers have nothing more substantial 10
base their calculations upon than an
early spring showing and a paper team.
it is just probable that they overlooked
few bets when they reached the Wash
ington cluB--
Handicapped by long and enforced
idIeness. due 10 bad weather, the SeBa-
tors jumped into the game. lined up
against the Philadelphia League team
and played all around it. Then came
Brooklyn, with whom they broke even,
ana should have taken both games.
Philadelphia then bested the Athletics
and Brooklyn has played New York to
standstiu.
AS matter Of fact, washington has
much improved team. capable of play
ing good fast ball, its infeld is COM
posed Of hustIing players, all Of whom
viii improve
Jimmy Ryan is tower Of strength IN
the outfieid, as IS Al Selbach, and both
are good stickars and run getters- Del
ehanty's proves al the bat is TOO well
known to dwell upon at length, and he
Is not quite as slow in his fielding as
many would make belleFt-' Duchy
Holmes is one Of the fastest felders in
the league. Lew Drill is an able assist
ant to Bill" Clarke behind the bat and
both have been known TO come TO the
rescue with timely hits
With an improved pitching staff, e
which it is in dire need, and some plain
heart 70 heart talks with the men on
the subject Of base running, in which
department Of the game they seem 70
have not the faintest conception. Wash
ington might pull out OF the mire and
finish al the bottom Of the first division,
New York Locks Good.
Summing up The baseball situation.
New York's team, on paper is a for
nltdable one The Dennsnt race seems
TO be between New York and St. Louis.
with the latter club a very strong con
handler New York has one OF the
strongest catching departments in the