The Washington times., 1912-12-26
NATIONALS LIKELY
TO BEGIN SEASON
ON HOME DIAMOND
Highlanders May Be First to
Oppose Climbers at
Florida Avenue.
SCHEDULE WILL BE
MADE NEXT WEEK
Three New Faces Expected. on
Staif Of American League
Umpires.
BY SENATOR"

Manager Griffith and his Nationals
are due to open the season Of 1913 right
here in Washington unless all signs fall.
But that isn't all. Not by q long
sight. Washington fans are likely to
see Frank Leroy Chance and his High.
landers here rs the opening attraction
In his debut as an American League
manager.
Here IL how It all comes about. Last
season the Nationals opened at Phila-
dclphia and went to New York for Q
series, thence on to Boston and inally
returned here for a four.game series
with the Athletics. their first appear.
ance In the league schedule on the home
lot.
The year before that the Boston Red
Sox started the season here. We have
then had Philadelphia and Boston as
openers and the year before that or
here a. tse opening asS ss and Ws
ter johnson came mighty near handing
up no-hit game at the very start.
Had not old Doc Gessier tripped
over a fan In right field johnson would
You all remember II well enough. and
II Is just a reminder that the High
landers are to return again this year to
open the season here.
Meet Next Week.
Ban johnson and Tom Lynch. with
the schedule makers. are due to meet
next week to arrange the dates. The
season will start OH April 10. according
TO an official announcement. and unless
tho method Of playing the games In the
American League is radically changed
the Highlanders are due here on April
10 with Frank l.. Chance debuting as
a regular American League manager.
There are several IFS" to be sure, in
all this advanced dope. but everything
points to the scheme AZ outlined, and It
Ia almost q safe prediction to make that
on April 10 L. Lawrence Phillips, the
silver.throated announcer. will herald
something like For New York. Ford
and Mr.. Sweeney; for Washington-''
and by this time Walter johnson will
bc striding to the pitchers box and
under his arm toward he plate. with
the din and roar Of some thousands of
throats making 1t impossible to think Of
anything else.
points to the Highlanders as the most
probably opponents of the Nationals
here next Spring and the rest Is easy
enough.
Meanwhile Grifr should worry. Every.
hing iSn,i exsctly settled for the Char.
cd that Grin will take another trip the
last OF next week when satisfactory ar
range!nents will be made for housing
ihe athletes during their training sea.
son.
Charlie Ferguson. who Is going to um.
pire for Ban johnson this year Is high.
~ recommended to the American
League head BY Clark Griffith and his
able scout. Mike Kahoe.
Favors Ferguson.
Griff has a good opinion of Ferguson,
told Johnson he was a finc arblter and
says he will make good. Mike Kahoe,
whose regular business In scouting for
players. knows Ferguson. has seen hIs
work and Is OF the opinion that hc Will
he able to make good record for him
The troubles OF the American League
umpires last season are going to force
~ least three new faces on the stan.
Wcstervcit and OBricn arc through,
and johnson will have another man to
take "Bull' Pcrrincs place
Tho announcement that Mike Donlin
may go TO Philadelphia with the PhilIics
comes as quite a surprise. DOnl!n was
expected to take up u managerial lob
having had plenty OF experience. While
tho veterans legs are not In the best
OF shape TO carry him along. his batting
eye Is undlmmcd, and he would be USE
tul as a pinch hitter.