Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-14
Organized Baseball Lid Will Be
Lifted in Eight Cities This
Afternoon.
GIANTS OPEN WITH PHlLLIES
Connie Mack's Athletics to Tackle
Yankees; Senators and Braves
Are Dark Horses.
By Frank G. Menke.


" something like $4,000 fanatics
alternately ate peanuts and
shouted their greetings. the major
league clubs of organized baseball
lifted the cover from the 1914 season
and began the business of cavorting
on the various greens in regular fash
ion
1t was a gala day for baseball, and
also for the fans. Fandom showed
how eager it was to get a glimpse of
the big leaguers in their opening bat
ties of the season by fighting among
themselves hours before the game
started for choice seats from which to
watch the doings Of the athletes.
A capacity crowd at each of the
parks was indicated by the early sale
of tickets and in some cities it
seemed certain long before the game
began that many of the late coming
fans would he turned away because of
lack of room for their accommodation
II the National League the Giants
were billed to open at Philadei-
~, the Boston Braves displayed
r wares in Brooklyn, the Pirates
"ro TO meet in head on collision
the Cardinals in the Missouri
and rhe cubs tackled Charley
u Yoc's Reds in the Redleg town.
he world champion Athletics
ned with the Yankees at the Polo
q nurds tho Senators grappled with
80 Red Sex in the Hub City. the
rs were billed to open with the
White S0X in Chicago, and the
Browns and Tigers were scheduled to
settle their first argument of the sea-
son in the Michigan CITY
There was considerable speculation
as to the outcome Of the Giant Phil
lie battle The two were bitter enc
mics last year, and seemed for a time
about evenly matched, But this year
the Phillies. raided by the Feds, have
sent into action a lineup that seemed
somewhat strange to the fans, and
which on paper seemed weaker than
last years combination. But Charley
Doom, the red headed manager has
come to the fore with the remark
that despite the loss of several of
our best men, we are as strong a = we
were last year and We'll furnish
few surprises"
THE Yankee lineup for the opening
1 game this year and the 1918
opener was Just about as different as
CAV and night. Only one man out
side of a catcher and three pitchers.
remains Of the 1918 Yankee team, and
Chance in sticking his new combina-
ton at the Athletics, was confident
that it would prove a stumbling block
to the Philadelphia boys. whose vic
tories over the Yankees last year
greatly aided them in their fight for
the pennant.
The Boston Braves, looked upon as
the dark horses In the National
League battle, sized up to-day as one
of the best aggregations that ever
fought under the Braves banners.
The addition of the peppery Evers
has added about 90 per cent to the
strength OF the team, and with the
pitching stan in good shape, II looked
to-day as II the Braves would blow
themselves to a nice little start and
that they would furnish trouble all
the way,
THE Senators looked mighty good
l when they lined up for battle
to-day. With Johnson still In his old
form. with two Of Grif1th's young
twjrIers giving promise of being able
10 help out the Speed King, and with
the outfield and lnfeld intact. the
bows from Washington look Ike for
midable foes,
The Maps didn't look overly husky
to-day when they appeared for their
FIRST clash OF the season or course
the smuggling pair, Jackson and La
ioie were among those present, and
with batting orbs undtmmed, but the
loss Of Falkenberg. the Maps pitch
ing mairstay last season. and the fact
that Chapman, the shortstop who
broke an ankle some weeks ago, won
be able to get into the game for an
other month. seemed to take away
aeout 20 per cent Of the clubs normal
strength