Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-18
BY j. ED GRILLo.

/ If weather conditions are favorable the
largest crowd that ever attended ball
| game in Washington will witness the
| opening of the season here tomorrow.
| The fact that the team made a good
| showing on its first trip. during which it
/ got an even break in the four games
| played, as we'll as the fact that it is vir-
| tually new team, has created the great
est interest among the patrons of the
game here, and every foot of available
| space is sure to be occupied.
| Griffith will present the same lineup
as he did in New York. Switch made
\ in the batting order has proven most sat
isfactory. as both games which have
| been played since it was made have been
victories. 1t is perhaps needless to say
that those two victories over the Yankees
have had an encouraging effect on the
players. They have an abundance of con-
| fidence now, and as their batting is i'm
| proving with every game, it will take
high-class playing by their opponents to
beat them.
There will, of course, be the usual OPEN
ing-day ceremonies. brass band and all
that sort of thing but the game will
start promptly at o'clock. 1t will be
the first appearance of the Athletics here
since IHeN nunDleQ the $rIdnLS IN the
worlds series, There has been little or
no change made in the champions line-ups.
and it is the same strong team today that
1t proved itself to- be last season.
Not until Manager Griffith has seen
them both warm up will he decide as
Walker. The extra days rest, though,
which was given the former by calling
off the game today makes it almost
certainty that he will face the worlds
cl,a mil yNolI ic in, Sp1ny
did form and ready to pitch should the
occasion demand For the Mackmen
Coombs or Bender is sure to pitch. though
it is probable that the latter will not be
sent in if the weather is cold.
That the game today was called off will
not affect the opening of the season
here Is certain. The same ceremonies
will be gone through with. The opening
is simply deferred day.
The game tomorrow will be called at
:; o'clock. the time that had been set for
today. The game Saturday will begin
at $780,
The game could probably have been
played this afternoon, but. notwithstand-
tickets had been sold. the club officials
did not desire to have the American
League inaugural take place in anything
other than an agreeable setting for the
spectators.
Doc Gessler. erstwhile right fielder Of
the Nationals. is in New York. and with
in a few days intends to sail for Europe.
Gessler will not report to the Kansas
City club. to which Griffith sold him. In
fact. he says that he has quit base ball
and will devote his time to the study Of
medicine in the future. He proposes to
attend lectures at some of the big univer-
stiles while abroad, and expects to finish
his studies in this country In about a
year. Gessler would have remained in
the game had he been able to retain
major league berth, but he objects to 60
ing to the minors.
Jack Lelivelt will be recalled from the
Rochester club at the end of the present
season. Lelivelt appears to be in better
condition this spring than he has ever
been, and during the exhibition games
in which he has taken part this spring
he has batted at 900 clip. It develops
that Lelfvelt. who was apparently suf-
fering from rheumatism when he left the
team last fall. was not a victim of that
malady at all. 1t was found that two
nerves in his legs had grown together
and were causing the pain from which
he suffered. An operation mended the
trouble. and the big fielder is sure to
have a most successful season. Griffith
regretted having to send Lelivelt to
Rochester as part of the deal whereby
the local club secured Foster and Moeller.
but If he shows well this season he is
sure to recall him.
The greatest difference is noticeable in