New Britain herald., 1914-04-13
Athletics and Gianfs Look
 Strong f0r 1Q14 Pennants
Former Already Has American League Flag Cinched and Latter Should Repeat Other National League
 Teams-Both Start Tomorrow.

Is the day Of all days most dear to Americas sport loving populace. It ushers in the baseball season of 1914, ] the Titanic struggles of the American and National leagues. Sixteen teams comprising the greatest players of the land, chafe for the umpire's call.
 Greater New York is favored beyond all rival big league cities. It alone has g double opening. Connie Mack's wonderful Athletic array, champion shine of the world, and one of the greatest champions of all time. will meet Frank Chances New York Americans at the Polo grounds. George Stallings Boston Braves. the great sensation of the National league race of 1918, will assist Wilbert Rob- inson's Dodgers in the inauguration at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn.
 Two Magnates at Polo Grounds.
 The Athletics would be sure of a fitting reception if they confined their activities 10 a parade across the field .sut another lure will make of the Polo Grounds Tuesday the most de- ssrab!e spot in Manhattan. Frank Chance will be there for a new start ,sith new team. His was anything but Il triumph last year. his first in the American league But all the sorry material with which he was eX- sacted to climb has been discarded. Outside some veteran battery talent, To; Hartzell, a utility man, alone is ieft of all the discordant horde to Which Chance fell heir on Harry Wol- yerton's departure. Chance has Thoroughly reconstructed the New York Americans. He has team of Youngsters. not yet thoroughly tested or welded together, but still, so far as can be seen from early spring per- formances,, vastly superior to the for gotten line of battle of one short year ago.
 sentiment. Wilbert Robinson, who endeared himself to the local National league followers by years of service as chief aid to McGraw. is in charge of EIbbets' Dodgers. Apparently he has applied successfully those prin- ciples which proved so beneficial with his erstwhile chief.
 The Giants, champions of the Ma tional league. will open on the hostile field at Philadelphia. The home fans must resign themselves to a belated welcome for them. Contrary to precedent, McGraw failed to return this year before the opening of the season. He will make his inaugural low in Brooklyn on April IS.
 Federals Upset Old Order.
 A new element has crept into the national pastime since a year ago and oie that is bound to affect the com petitions of the two great rival leagues. This is the Federal league, which aspires to recognition as an equal of the National and American. Apparently the Federal league pro- meters have not weakened the collec- tive strength of the two majors na- terially as yet. For the most part what players were attracted from the charmed circle of the elite society were either veterans well on the wane or else inexperienced men not certain in their prospects under the older or ganizations' wing. But several major league clubs have been more unfor- tunate than their fellows and what blows have fallen have fallen in such a way as to dc the victims the great est possible harm.
 No club has suffered more in this respect than the Philadelphia Ma tionals. The desertion of Otto Knabe land Mike Doolan to the Baltimore In- dependents broke the infield backbone Of a team which had the fairest chance to halt McGraw's sprint to fourth straight pennant. This same club has lost-for the time at least its greatest pitcher, Tom Seaton. The Federal hand disturbed the fine pitch ing staff of Pittsburg. always a dan gerous factor in National league light. Nor did it skip the customary first division tenants of the American league, Washington. Boston, Cleve- land and Detroit
 Federal league inroads however, failed to affect to any appreciable ex- tent the strength of last years cham pions. Not man deserted Connie Mack. But a few substitutes forsook the McGraw standard. No doubt the | layers of these champion teams were Influenced in loyalty by the thought of worlds series reward.
 Athletics Have a Strangle Hold.
 Anything may happen in baseball. That is why spring predictions usually come to such an early fall. But if ever team looked certain of re- peated success that is the American league champion led by Connie Mack. The Athletics boast that wonderful Sfrengtl which carried them through aH rivals, including the Giants, a year ngo. The team is young, at the zenith of it's power. and should open the season strong where it was week. a year ago-its battery positions. The mighty Bender and the great plank may be on the decline. But Mack has built up in their places ot two but five young boxmen to Anp in and fill the breach. Bush, Shawkey, Wyckof, Pennock and