Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-14
President Will in Person Open
American League Season.
BIG DAY IN THE CALENDAR
Nationals and Athletics Will Meet
at American League Park. .
ATTENDANCE RECORD IN PERIL
Walter johnson in Fine Condition.
Plank or Bender Slated to Pitch
for Connie Mack.

Base ball fans can hold their heads
high In the air and lord it over every
body, for William Howard Taft Presi-
dent of the United States is for today at
least one of them.
Not only will President Taft be on hand
to root for the Nationals, but he is actu-
ally going to toss the first ball put In
play in the game at American League
Park this afternoon.
President Taft Vice President Sherman
and many other notables will occupy
boxes. President Taft received from
President Ban johnson pass No. to all
the American League games, and Vice
President Sherman. who was at the
White House during the day, received
pass No. 2. Both are inclosed in hand
some leather cases. Mrs. Taft will ac-
company the President.
Doesn't matter whether my pass is
No. l, . or o. said the Vice President.
rit's the pass that tickles me. l am
going to put Curtis of Kansas In the
chair and go to the game" AS Senator
Curtis, who had accompanied the Vice
President to the White House, remarked.
THAT is the way he gets rid of me-
Up at the Capitol it was regarded as
more than likely that an early adjourn
ment of Congress would take place. as
base ball has been almost as much
topic for the past two weeks as the ma
tional issues.
All signs indicated early this afternoon
that the opening of the American League
season by the Nationals and the Ath-
letics would draw a record-smashing
crowd The streets leading to American
League Park looked like the road to the
Benning race track on the days when big
stake events were to be decided. they
were thronged with carriages and au-
tomobiles filled with base ball fans. and
the street cars looked like sugar barrel
assaulted by flies. Not only were they
packed inside, but the platforms were
TANNED and eager humanity swarmed
over the running boards of the open ears.
For it is the big day in the base bali
calendar
Throng at the Gates.
Long before the noon hour the eager
fans began gathering at the gates OF the
park, and when Business Manager Fowler
gave orders for the sale of tickets to pc
gin there was a crowd numbering I'm the
thousands lined up in front OF the diner
ent windows.
Bleachers Filled by / O'Clock.
The crowd outside the ground was SO
large by II O clock that IL became almost
unmanageable, and Capt. Doyle advised
Business Manager Fowler to throw open
the gates at 12:So. instead OF l o'clock, 50
as to relieve the blockade on 7th street.
The lines of ticket buyers EXTENDED out
the runway and up and down eth st and
with the crowd on the side must have
numbered at least 3,C09 when the gates
were thrown open. There Was a hot
scramble for bleacher seats, and by l
o'clock the sale of tickets thereto had
to be stopped.
Manager McAleer arrived at the
grounds at IL 80 and put on uniform.
He Immediately gave orders for change
in the lineup of the Nationals on account
of a ieft handler, Plank, pitching Tor the
Athletics. Elberfeid. instead oil batting
next to Unglaub, was placed up In pos
ton SO as to break apart the TWO lett
handed hitters.
Kid Elberfeld came into the clubhouse
at 1880 with the blood streaming from
his nose, anu for minute had every
body frightened over his condition. Tne
Kid says he has an attack OF bleeding
at the nose about once year ana, OK
course il had to come on the opening
day.
Numerous remedies were suggested by
the players. and after several mad been
applied the Kid was all right again IN
about half an hour.
Manager McAleer aud the players of
the Washington club received long teie-
gram at noon today from eX-Manaser
Joe Cantillon, wishing them good luck
for the season, and especially In the
opening game. The manager and all the
players signed a telegram In reply, thank
ing Joe for his good wishes
Splendid weather and unusual enthu-
sasm ushers in the tenth season Of the
American League in Washington. Vet
eran observers of the national game IN
Washington have noticed the Increased IN
terest ever since Manager McAieer was
secured to look after the local team, ana
from then up to the present time IL mas
developed into sizzle.
At least 800 Baltimore fans came over
to see the game. and the electric line had
its cars crowded to the doors The nearby
towns and villages of Virginia and Mary
land have been sharing with Washington.
enthusiasts the interest in the team, and
they were coming in from all directions
this morning.
Arrival of the Athletics.
Manager Connie Mack and his husky
band of Athletics arrived at the Arlington
from Philadelphia near the noon hour.
and were welcomed by a large crowd OF
employed here by Uncle Sam, and o.
course they are pulling for the visitors
to win. Connie Mack is a great favorite
here. as he once was the receiving erd OF
the famous battery. Gilmore and Mack,
when this city was in the National
League. Manager Mack had no soone
arrived at the park than the emrloyei
started Kidding him about the WASH
instons winning the first game
"Well. I guess they have a chance at
that" he replied. Walter Johnson y
fina nitcher. but you know the Washing
ton BOYS never did care much fer Ed
plank or Big Chief Bender, and ! ani
going to let them lock at the one wh'
shows the most in the warm-up.
Jimmie McAleer is one Of my warnl-
est friends and no one wants to see him
win more than I do, but you know friend
shin stops on the field OF battle, and am
going TO do everything | can to throsy
him down this afternoon.
MY outfield? That story about my