The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-09
The OPENING DAY
Major Baseball Leagues Begin
Operations on April IL.
Prospects Bright for a COntin u
alton of Crowded TurnstiIes.
CONTESTED.
Chicago Cubs VIII Not Have a
WalkOver This, Year.
Every Club in the American,
Save Two, Has q Chance.
NATIONAL LEAGUE.

Il
l. Pittsburg at Cincinnati.
|. st. Louis at Chicago.
|. Philadelphia at Boston.
l. New York at Brooklyn.
|, AMERICAN LEAGUE.
|. Chicago at St. Louis.
Cleveland at Detroit.
/. Boston at Philadelphia.
New York at Washington.
CLUB MANAGERS.
National-Cincinnati Ned Hanlon:
Chicago. Frank Chance; ST. Louis.
John McClockey;sr Pittsburg, Fred
Clarke; Boston, Fred Tenney; New
Donovan: Philadelphia, Billy Murray.
I. Chicago Fielder Jones;
st. Louis, Jim McAleer1a Cleveland,
Larry Lajoie; Detroit, Hugh Jennings;
New York, Clark Griffith; Philadel-
phia, Connie Mack; Washington. Joe
Cantillon; Boston, John 1. Taylor.
Cincinnati, April Son Thursday
next both major leagues will open
their championship seasons, the Ma
tional starting on it's thirty-second
consecutive year, and the American on
its eighth. 1t is no exaggeration to
say that the coming year promises to
be the best in the history of the game,
which has witnessed a steady growth
in popularity for many years, with no
prospect Of diminution.
gives every promise of being more
closely contested than it was last sea-
son, when the Chicago Cubs had
walkover. The Cubs look to have the
best chance again this year, as the
great team is intact and should play
firstclass ball from the tap of the bell.
The team will be managed by Frank
Chance, who made a success of his
work last year. The pitching staff is
good, although. not sensational, and
ha a flC era r17n in
every department. Barring accidents,
the Cubs are an odds-on chance for
the flag.
The New York Giants, under Nc
Graw, will make a desperate battle for
first honors, but lack the youth and
speed of the Cubs. The club will be
made up the same as last year, except
that Tom Corcoran, for the past 10
years with the Reds, is playing second
base IN place of Billy Gilbert. The
team has not been strengthened and
can hardly hope for anything better
than the place. The Pittsburg Pirates.
continuing under the management of
Fred Clarke, have made few changes
in the lineup. At second base Ed
Abbaticchfo, the big Italian sformerly
with the Bostons; hasEtaken the place
of - Claude Ritchey, and should
strengthen the team in hitting
Pittsburg always plays good ball, and
this year will be no exception.
The Philadelphia club is the only one
in the league which will be under a new
MANAGEMENT. Billy Murray. of the Jer-
sey. City team, having taken the place
of Hugh Duffy as leader of the team
Murray is winner. and it is certain
that the Qual1ers will play with more
spirit than was the case last season.
The Cincinnati club continues under
the management of Ned Hanlon, but a
new deal has been made with regard
to players. All the former stars have
been eliminated with the exception of
Catcher Schlei, Pitcher Ewing and In
fielder Higgins, and their places taken
by young players gathered from all
over the country. The team is mex
perienced. but promising. and. though
rather weak in the box, should do bet
ter than last year.
The Brooklyn club has about the same
personnel as last season. with the addi-
ton of Pitchers Bell, Rueber and Hen
ley, all good men. Manager Donovan
is well liked by players and public, and
is sure to get the best results out of
the material at his command
The Boston club has strengthened a
great deal by changing hands, the pc
nurious and backward methods of Soden
and Canant giving way to the progress
sive policy of the new owner. George B.