The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-15
MONSTER THR0NG
WATCHES BATTLE
Constant Stream of Humanity
Pours Through Gates for
Opening Game.
PRESIDENT TOSSES BALL
Throws Leather TO Umpire Billy
Evans and 1915 Champion
ship Race Is On.
BY NAT r. WORLES.

With the band playing the National
Anthem and the Nationals drawn up In
line I'm front of the grand stand, Pree-
dent Wilson tossed out the first ball
yesterday afternoon and the grand cam
paign for the top-notch honors in the
American League was on.
The President, who was a second base
man during his college days at Davidson
College, North Carolina, drew back with
true pitchers motion and whizZed the
ball from his box into the waiting hands
OF the umpire in what was described
by an onloOker as outshoot The UNI
pire was standing only twenty feet from
the Presidents box and he caught the
ball with his bare hands. The Presi-
dent seemed to have had some smoke.
for Evans hastily put the ball into his
pocket and clapped his hands together
il they smarted from catching it,
The crowd understood that the ball
which Mr. Wilson had thrown was to
he the first which Walter Jonson was
kept the ball as a souvenir. however.
and tossed another to the pitcher with
which TO begin the game.
President Stays Until End.
The President had as guests in his box
Miss Helen Woodrow Bones. Mrs Nor
man Gait. OF Washington; Secretary TIL
multy. and pr Cary T. Grayson. He
seemed TO enjoy the game thoroughly.
and sat until the last ball had been
thrown. In tho seventh inning he stood
with all of the other Washington fans
following custom which has grown up
here.
Before the game Manager Clark Griffith
presented the President with a baseball
hat and ball for his grandson. Francis
Sayre. Both of these were inscribed:
From the Washington Baseball club to
Francis Sayre
The President accepted the gifts in
pleasant spirit and took them to the
White House with him in his automo-
bile
Many prominent government officials
we're scattered throughout the monster
rrowd of 1900 people who assembled to
give the Washington team boost on its
long journey to IN" championship.
IL" fact that tho Jump caught the
first ball WAS considered q good omen by
iIl, old-timorS who sa tn" feat. I'm
r.ir"s arc usually hunEInrS from tho fans
viewpoint. hat Rlly Evans held on to
III" old horSChidc. and great hoarse
cheer went up from one end of the park
t. the other.
Rush starts at Noon.
Promptly at noon the crowd commenced
to 1ow in steady stream through the
@atcs. and AT o'clock. when tho music
arrived and Hmh"'ed III. tn" jury box
in left fold and nearly all OF tho Accent
seats were filled Will" fully half an hour
before the contest Was called tn" grand
stand seats We're sold out.
The man with the pass came breczing
up and greeted tho cntckeeprr with a
smile and Hello George: great day for
tho game. CHI hoy Stufiin- tho precious
little green book in a pocket he hurried
on to get a good place to view the
combat.
The peanut man and the popcorn
boys were out in foTre and as we
passed in We were reminded that You
can't tell the players without a pro-
gram"
it was noticed that many of our lead
ing dyed-in- the-wool fans were walk
ing around with an 81 don't care what
happens to me" look. Inquiry by the
boss brought forth tho most harrow
ing tales of sickness and sudden death
hut once excused for the afternoon tho
wry look departed from their faces
and the old smile came out like a
monday sun.
Boss Finally Declares a Holiday.
Hell" said one man. whats the
matter with this bunch anyway. do You
want me to shut up shop for the day.
When | was n boy | had to work from
in the morning until at night for
81 week and never had a day off
etc. etc. etc Finally he did declare
a holiday from 2:3o on and Joined tho
great mad thronG that yelled itself
out for Washington victory
when the peerless Walter Johnson
mounted the mound and prcpa rcd TO
timber up with Ainsmiih al the receive
ing end. the crowd put tho kibosh on
the story that tn" big fellow had lost
his popularity. The cheer that greet
cd him big and generous and
sincere any he has received since
he donned a Washington uniform, II
not bigger and more enthusiastic.