The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-12
FIRST GAMES OF
 SEASON ON TODAY New York In Washington, Pos-
 ton In PhiIade phia
ANOTHER SEASON OAWNS
Every Club In Big Leagues Plays Wednesday-Many Changes of Managers and Players in
 Both Companies.

The umpire's cry of Play ball!s will resound throughout the major and minor league circuits this week when the base ball season of 1909 will be formally opened.
 Weak spots have been strengthened in all the teams and baseball sharps declare that at least five in each of the big leagues must be recSoned on as serious contenders for the championship. The eastern wing of the American league will be the first clubs to open the ball sea son. Tomorrow at Washington the New York Americans will engage the home team. and at Philadelphia the Boston Americans and the Athletics will clash.
 In Full Cry.
 On April 14 all the clubs in both big leagues will march upon the playing field and the dash to the pennant pole will be on in full cry. In the National league the eastern clubs will engage each other. while the western clubs will start the season on their own playing fields Brook lyn will cross the river and play the New York Nationals, while the Philadel- pha team will go northward to meet the Boston team. In the west Pittsburg gages Cincinnati at Cincinnati and the Chicago club, the worlds champions, will have the honor of inaugurating the sea- son at home with St. Louis.
 The western branch of the American league will get into action Wednesday with Chicago at Detroit and Cleveland at St. Louis, the New Yorks playing at Washington and Boston at Philadelphia the first four days of the week. The Southern league opens Thursday, while the Eastern league does not open until April P.
 Several Radical Changes.
 Radical changes in team composition and managers this year have increased the uncertainties of the major league pen nant race. In the National league the baseball fan finds that the New York club has practically new outfeld in Murray. O'Hara and Herzog. while the pitching staff has been strengthened.
 The Chicagos will be without the ser vices of Catcher Kling and Second Base man Evers during the early part of the season at least, and this is a problem that Manager Chance must solve before his team can class with last year.
 Plttsburg remains practically unchanged d game fight clear to the finish.
 Roger Bresnahan, former catcher of the New York team, is now at the helm of the St. Louis club, which club is made up of young players.
 The Cincinnati club has Clark Griffith as it's new manager. He has secured a fine pitching stan and claims first di- vision honors.
 The Boston club will be guided by Frank Bowerman, who is making no claims, but hopes to figure up toward the top at the close of the season.
 American League Changes.
 Many changes will be noted in the American league. Fielder Jones will be missed from center field and as manager of the Chicago club, and Catcher Sulli- van probably will succeed him in direct ing the White Sox. The Chicagos will start the season with practically the same club as last year.
 With Moriarity at third, the Detroit club has plugged the hole in its infeld and again has pennant aspirations.
 Manager Gajoie of Cleveland has braced his pitching department by the acquisition of Cy Young from Boston, and believes he has a championship club, which will be in the fight from the start St. Louis will make the race with the same team that did so well last year, while the Phila- delphia, Washington and Boston clubs have been strengthened. New York has new manager, George Stallings, who has developed team of youngsters and also has few seasoned veterans.