New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-11
Bla League Pennant Races to
Open in Eight Cities
with a Roar.
FEAST FOR THE "FANS" HERE
Yankees viii Face Boston on the
Hilltop, While Giants Must
Meet superbas Across
the Bridge.

the mortality among relatives both near
and distant viii be appalling according TO
the most authentic reports, for the day
which has cheered the small boy and
not a few big boys during the long winter
months is here. This afternoon, the magic
words" Play BALI will be heard in eight
big league parks and another baseball sea-
son will be on.
For the first time in many years New
York will be treated to a double bill for
the opening day. With the Giants begin
ming the season in Brooklyn at o'clock
this afternoon and the Yankees starting
their campaign on the hilltop at $3.50
o'clock. the baseball populace may well
declare that it is beginning the season
with q vengeance. Amid the festive deco
rations and the blare of martial music
Supreme Court Justice Edward +. Mccall
will throw out the first ball to start the
new pennant race at American League
Park, while Mayor Gaynor will test his
arm in doing the honors at Washington
Park, Brooklyn.
Torn by two rival attractions, the rams, .
of the metropolitan district have had
hard time deciding where to go. With the
champion Giants meeting the Superbas IN
Brooklyn and the New York Yankees ell
gaging in dire combat with the Boston Red
Sox on the hilltop, a feast OF oaseoall Is
provided which is rarely served up for the
delectation Of the followers of the game In
any one city. Although no announcement
has been made, everything points to a spir-
tied pitchers battle between Russell FORD
and Joe Wood, at American League Park,
while those two sterling southpaws, the
greatest in the game to-day. Rube Mar
guard and NAP" Rucker, are picked Tor
duty in Brooklyn. Either game is worth
going miles to see, and with bright skies
such as promised by the forecasters, there
will be an outpouring of fans which Will
tax the seating capacity Of the two parks
10 the limit
Predictions for the most successful base
ball season in history are made this year
by those most closely connected with the
game. Both President Lynch Of the Ma
tional League and President johnson OF
the American League are confident or
banner campaign, and have prophesied
pennant races of such keenness that the
mouths of the fans water at the pros
pect. There has been a general strengthen
ing of the big league teams all around II
Is pretty generally conceded that the
Giants will have a merry little time trying
TO win the National League bunting again.
while four or five managers in the younger
organization are determined that the cum
n ming Connie Mack shall not have every
thing his own way this season ana are out
10 give the leader of the Athletics the pat
tie Of his life.
Hardly in tip top condition, the Yam
KEGS arrived in New York last evening
after a more or less unsuccessful training
season. Hampered by rain and colo
weather and handicapped here and there
with injuries, Wolverton has had MS
troubles bringing the team TO top form
In the last three or four exhibition games
the New York team has played poorly and
while hitting the ball like champions the
fielding and base running have been Delo"
par. But the men are game to the core
and can be trusted TO give the Red SoX
lively battle this afternoon. Fortunately
Wolverton will be able to swing his full
fighting strength into line TO start the
new campaign. The injured members or
the nine have sufficiently recovered to get
into the game once more. While the de-
fence of the team lacks cohesiveness
through insufficient practice, It will take
only a day or two Of pleasant warm
weather to bring the nine around.
Outside Of Street and Wolverton, there
will be no new faces in the lineup when
the Yankees take the field this afternoon.
Dolan earned place at third base last
fall and has kept It by right of might ever
since He is the only youngster who did
not start the last campaign with the Yam
KEGS. Street. of course. will be an unfa-
miliar sight in New York uniform, but
he is no stranger to the metropolitan
fans" Then, too, there is Wolverton'
about whom the followers Of the team
have heard so much and seen so little.
Considerable attention will be devoted TO
the new manager, who Is certain TO be out
on the coaching lines keeping the team up
to the mark every minute. Chase, Gard
ner, Hartzell and Dolan for the inheld and
Cree, Wo1ter and Daniels for the outfeld
will be tho lineup for the present.
The Red Sox, who are being highly con-
sidered these days as powerful rivals Of
the champion Athletics. arrived in New
York yesterday. having cancelled a game
scheduled to be played in Worcester,
Mass, in order that they might get rest
for to-days conflict. Jake Stahl has put
new life into team which was always a
pretty likely looking aggregation. Boil
STEERING up FIRST base himself, Stahl has
put tho brilliant Wagner at second, the
equally sensational Yerkes at short and
Gardner at third. These. with that hard
hitting trio OF outfelders, Lewis Speaker
and Hooper, present a formidable front
to all rivals. Stahl declares that he has
q find in a young infelder named Krug,
who may possibly edge his way into the
lineup at short Joe Wood appears to be
primed for the fray. while O'Brien gives
every indication Of living UP TO the pre-
dictions of a glorious baseball career
which were made for him when he hum
bled the Athletics so easily last fall. on
the whole, the Red Sox are better pre-
pared TO begin the season than the Yam
KEGS. although they, too, have been ham
pered by bad weather,
Preparations have been made TO entertain
a big crowd on the hilltop. The game will
begin at $3.50 o'clock, the gates being opened
at 1890 o'clock. Princes military band has
been engaged TO help while away the
time until the game begins. The concert
will start at o'clock. Workmen have been
busy during the last two days in putting UP
the decorations. and when the curtain is
rung up this afternoon the old park will be
gayly attired in a new dress Of multi colored
pennants and flags. Wolverton will receive
a silver loving cup, which will be presented
by Assemblyman Alfred e. Smith on be-
half Of the fans" OF Oakland Hart and
Connolly will umpire.
Justice Mccall. VINO viii throw out the
ball on the hilltop, Is great lover of the
national game.
Nearly thirty years ago the young men
who attended the TRANSPORTATION Church
in Mott street organized the Leo Baseball
Club, which turned out 10 be one Of the
local champions. Justice Mccall was the
second baseman and the other players were
Eddie McClynn, catcher: Billy Lawton
Dffcher. John (saWghau FIRST la pa fy.fcL