New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-11

sh I%1is HI es 81 New York 9oyn az FGs2n
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Rev York at Washington Roston Philadelphia
Cleveland at Detroit Chicago al 81. Louis
The baseball season will be formally opened
to-day in various cities by the National and
American league teams weather permitting. The
outlook Is none too bright in this city, where
the Giants will begin their long fight for the
National League pennant with Philadelphia. as
winter decided 20 die hard and made it's pres
ence felt in the last two DAYS. The fans are
hopeful. however, and there is fair chance
that the game will he played The Superbas
will open their season in Boston. while the High
landers of the American League. viii make their
bow in Washington. Under favorable condi-
tons, one of the biggest crowds in the history
Of the sport in this city would welcome the
Giants to-day. as baseball seems to be more
popular than ever
Every effort was made yesterday by the New
York club to prepare the Polo Grounds so that
it would be possible TO carry out the original
programme for the opening game to-day
large force of men were at work all day remov-
ing the snow utilizing trucks and wheelbarrow3.
and the progress made would insure the game
being played provided warm sun would dry
ur the field this morning
way of decorations The 9TH Regiment band
will begin musical programme at $50 o'clock
and play until the opening OF the game There
will lie the usual .larch across the field by the
two clubs and a city official win throw out the
first ball. The Mayor has been invited. but there
is some uncertainty about his attending.
Should the conditions be unfavorabe for play
ing the game the invitations and all seats that
were purchased for to-day will be good at any
time that the opening programme is carried out
A close hard fight is promised in both leagues
this year. and the Giants, Supcrbas and High
landers are likely to play prominent part from
the start. Harry c. Pulliam. president OF the
National League. is optimistic. and. in speaking
of the season. said:
The National League never entered upon
campaign that gave more promise or success
than does the season Of 1907. With prosperity
abroad in the land and all our teams strength
ened and fully prepared for renewal or the
struggle for championship honors. look 1Gr-
ward 70 a most successful season, artisticaliy
and financially.
I predict an open race-in fact the best race
we have had in recent years and base this on
the fact that, while the Chicago champions nave
not been weakened. their opponents have all
been strengthened and better prepared TO dis
pute their claim to the stellar honors than they
were in 1906 With the return of MathewsOn 70
his 1905 form the New York team will be far
stronger antagonist than It was In 1905 and
should prove Formidable competitor 10 the
champions. as we'll the rest OF the teams.
The surprise OF last season was the marked
Improvement shown by the Brooklyn club. Don
ovan's men more than once stopped the onward
march Of the victorious Chicagos II was prac-
tlcally team, just put together last year.
while this season ii has the advantage OF
years drill I'm team TX, and II the same de-
gree Of Improvement is shown was last sea-
II will prove a stumbling block to more than
one aspirant for the flag.
Ban B. Johnson. president Of the American
League. IN talking of the coming pennant race
said
The keen interest manifested everywhere IN
the practice work of the teams augurS we'll for
a glorious opening of this years campaign
There have been numerous accidents at the
training camps and from that cause some OF
the American League clubs Will not take the
field with their full strength.
Boston has been seriously crippled by the I'M
timely death OF Stahl. and Barrett has gone to
the hospital with his old knee trouble New
York. too. has had It's full quota OF bad luck
The injury 10 many players will be serious
drawback to the team in the early period OF the
championship race. The Washington club has
a crippled infed. but CantillOn is hopeful OF
making good start IN the pennant race.
The worlds champions. from all accounts, are
in splendid fettle. and will inaugurate the sea-
son under much better auspices than year ago
Mr. Comisky is bubbling over with confidence
and If the same spirit pervades the team the
White Sox will cut "A big swath in the race from
the fall Of the flag. Misfortune still clings to
Lajoie and his Cleveland band OF bal-tossers-
laid up for repairs. Detroit. Philadelphia and
st. Louis have tided through the practice sea-
son without serious mishaps.
The fact that many OF the clubs are handl-
capped by the loss of players may result in a
one-sided race in the early weeks of the cham
pionship season. am confident, however, that
in the end we will have quite as close and ex-
citing a finish as marked the struggle for the
pennant in 1906
Klein has been assigned TO the Polo Grounds
to-day as umpire. and the New York and Phila-
delphia teams will take the field as follows
NEW YORK. PHILADELPHIA.
c..