The Washington times., 1915-04-11
Walter Johnson Likely to Be
Found Opposing Ray eaId-
we'll When First Game Of
Year Is Played Here.
President Wilson Promises to
\ Toss First Ball, Provided o.
ficiaI Business Does Not De-
tain Him at White House.
Bv LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

DIV bI ~
The American League campaign
opens Wednesday afternoon at 3
o'clock. the Griffmen meeting the
New York Yankees, with the chances
very likely that Walter johnson,
considered the best pitcher in the cir
cult, will oppose Ray Caldwell, one
Of his closest competitors.
The advance sale for this opening
combat has been large, but Secretary
w. H. Fowler said today that there
would be room for all who care to
witness the opening ceremonies.
Tickets will continue to be sold at
the ball park until the game begins.
President Woodrow Wilson has
promised to attend the first contest,
If he possibly can. The Chief Ex-
ecutive of the nation will toss the
ball to Walter johnson and then the
official season will be on, not to end
until next October.
The lineup Of the Grifrmen cannot be
foretold with certainty. The same team
that, opened the campaign year ago
may be found on the field wednesday:
However, there Is chance that Hsnri
Rondeau may be seen in left field. Tho
Woonsocket Frenchman Is suffering
from a severe charleyhorse. which may
keep him on the bench. In that case
either Hank Shanks or Charlie PICK
may be in the garden However. the
final choice rests with Manager Grif-
nth and he admits that he does not
now know lust who will play left held.
Tomorrow comes the New York Giants
final exhibition game played by the
Grifrmen, this spring. Booth Hopper
and Jack Bentley NAV be seen on the
mound against the National League
runners-up. though this Will hardly De
determined until the twirlers start to
warm un In front Of the stand. NO
announcement has come that either
Christy Mathewson or Jen Tesreau WIN
perform for the Giants. so the rams
may expect some Of the second or third
string pitchers to oppose the Griffmen
Tuesday will be a day Of rest for the
Washington ball club. though Manager
Griffith expects to have his athletes
going throuEh pTaGattss e. stun rn at w,, las se
more than mere batting and fielding
with a possible exercise Of the various
signs used by the team.
When the New York Yankees come
here next Wednesday they will have
With them at least one real Washing
ton favorite in wild william Dono-
van, the manager OF the outfit. Thev
will also have Walter Pipp. who once
eavorted at first base % for the s,sads eadno,u ,u
' the Capital easily reach into the shun-
dreds and he Is assured Of real re,
ception when he appears on the nelo
with his ball club Ptnp made many
friends for himself while stu3ent at
the Brookland institStton and they viii
ali be out there to see him hold down
the first cushion for a big league team
The New York club, while hardly
aaL
for the leagues banrer. Is st'll worthy
Of consideration. Fritz Maisel, the
midget at third base. led the league
last wear in stolen bases. "Btrdie'
one Of the hardest hitters in organized
baseball. Hushey High. last year with
the Detroit Tigers is making good In
the feld for the Yanks. while Ptpp Is
making a record around arst base.
Bill Donovan. like Clark Griftith. has
a strong pitching stan. II he sends Ray
caldwell after the fret game, the t"le-
graph finger should stand an excellent
chance Of landing the honors. Caldwell
ranks with the best pitchers in base
ball today. In addition to him there
are King Cole. Cy Pieh.. Jack WARRIOR;
Ray Keating, Thrush" McHale, and
Carroll Brown. This staff Is one OF the
leave town, they should force the Griff-
men to show all they have.
This will be busy week for Clark
Griffith's young men. Tomorrow they
face the Giants. Wednesday. Thursday.
and Friday they have the Yankees as
their guests. On Saturday the Boston
Red Sox will make their first 1915 ap-
pearance at Georgia avenue and the
throng attending that game ought to
come close to record figures. Most
critics are picking the Red SoX to land
the pennant next October and the fans
will all want to see how Bill Carrgan' 3
team shapes up against the Griffmen.
also considered contenders by most
baseball writer's all over the land.
The American league season. open
ing here next Wednesday. bills the
Griffmen in seven home games before
they hit the road. Three Of these are
with the New York Yankees and the
next four are with the Red Sox. A
week from next Thursday will find the
Grinmen starting four-game series
at the Polo Grounds against the
Yankees. After that they return home
Then they hit the road in earnest.
Here is the first long trip Of the Griff-
men, according to the official schedule
At Boston-May /. s.4.6
At Philadelphia-May 6,
At Detroit-May 9.
At Chicago--May II. u, 10. l5.
Al ST. Louis-Nsy I6. II, IS. 10
At Cleveland 30. p. 90 %
At Detroit-May q. e5.' 2s. q.
stranF" In that II sends the team to
Detroit for one game on May and
then bringR them back for four contests :
at the very end of the first swing
around the frontier. Twenty four Eames
ara. are to Gc % played on on: ZIP ~. .. Ss tSr.sn