The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-04-12
fBy United Press ]

81 tnttGQ fFesS,4
NEW YORK, April i2six months
OF undfluted joy for the baseball fan,
In other words the 1911 baseball sea
son, opened today in both Of the big
Ieagueg.
Today begins what bids fair 10 DC
the most propitious year the national
game has ever known Baseball mas
grown 10 tremendously big and Is noT
conducted on such a comprehensive
and buainessIiGe basis that II is pref
~ cafe to predict that every
seasoa viii be little better on the
whole than the preceding year. KaoTE
edge Of this fact prompts President
Lynch Of the National and Presiden'
johnson Of the American 70 predict
that 1911 will get new record IN at
tendance.
A remarkable feature Of the season
now opening Ia that the Chicago
CUBS, who won the National League
Dennant with eaae last year, are not
the fayorites for the honor this year
The short end In the betting Ia the
New york Giants, who fnished zee
end fin 1910
A symposium Of views Of thirty
well known sporting editors in big
league toms found ~ pinnfng their
faith 10 Sey York and only three -
Chicago. Of the three who picked Chi
cago. tro we're Chicago gcrfbea.
Three aIse, touted Pit;sburg for the
nag. In the American league 20 Of
,fsese writer's selected the Philadei-
pfsEa Athletes 10 repeat while one lone
esopester hooked 70 Detroit FOR the
winner,
hi sg eaay enough n zee Why the
Athletics should be such unanimous
caosce, for The team showed last sea-
soa TIA. IL IS SILL coming, but Il 10
dsfacult 10 see why the Cubs should
r9a aJ.eF q had second 10 View York
II II probably because the Gianfs
made such strong finish and the
esfs vent down 70 such inglorfons
defeat Defore the Athletics in the
worlds ,ifIe games.
The failure IF TIE CnDg 70 repeat,
however, nay be Dredicated on only
ore basis--a fail down On the part o.
several d the old gtars. The Chicago
team tfiat takeg the field today ia
practically the same team that has
won -four Of the lat fTe National
League flags. Manager Chance 9
combination haa proTed unbeatable 10
the National league, 80 that the only
way II IL likely To lose this year VII
be for the hitherto alright machine
to "biow" or for other teams 10 ex
hibit unexpected strength
Those who are pegBimistic regard
ing Chicago. put the proposition TIM
way: There Ii more likelihood o
Chances veteran team becomini
creaky than that the Gants. the ri
rates or the Cincinnati Reds vii
not strike q swift and deadly gait an
maintain 1t TO the end
II Is differences Of opinion tina
make horse races and the same hold
true in baseball National League 10
lowers generally would not regret {
see some other team than the Cub
cop the bunting for otherwise tn
DIO5DegL vi me 4NdllOJjdI i>Edkut II
gaining the worlds tit'e is about Z
bright az the Alberta orange Gro
The team that Connie Mack turne
out last year would. In the opinion
nine experts out Of ten, trim the Cul
nearly ar often as they could get t
gether. And this is the team tn
Connie Mack, II fortune goes we'll, "
hurl against the National League wi
nerB again.
When Mack was asked for the lin
rp for his opening game this year,
replied. Take your scorecard of Z
first worlds series game last year, p
Oidring in place Of Strunk and y
will have it, This means that t
crafty Mr.. McGillicuddy is standi
1at with vengeance. II is true th
he has added a couple Of pitchers
Russell and Collamore but 1t is DOUBT
n they will do more than tran aio
this year and learn from Watchl
such stars as Bender and Coombs
Practically the same situation
tains in the camp of the CUBS. M
ager Chance has added pitchers Ton
and Griffen and outflelders Doyle a
shean but they will probably be
emergencies and fail Of regular bert
Toney looks to be the real goods
Chance is certain he has uncovered
other wonder like King Cole.
ioney and Griffen make good, the 0
iepeated cry that Chances pitchi
sn was cracking may be found
i s ss One thing in the Cubs fay
ID q improved form this year Of T
K Nsainaeh, who VAS out OF the gar