The Washington times., 1915-04-14
THOUSANDS Of.
FANS JAM BIG
PARK AS FIRST.
BATTLE OPENS
Walter Johnson Cheered to Echo
and Other Griffmen Receive
PIaudits of Crowds During
Practice Before Game.
Continued from First Page. J

Continued from First Page)
to Walter johnson, which will be the
signal for the opening Of the 1915 season
When the athletes appeared from
their dugouts they were appauded by
the bugs who were looking for some
thing to cheer. The Yankees. filing
across in front of the stand, were given
hands. but when the first National
crawled out of the dugout, he was
cheered to the echo.
In a few moments the entire Griff-
mems squad was running around the
ball yard The Old Fox had to tip his
cap several times when he appeared
on the mound against the batters and
the fans were quick to notice the long
sashing drives of Dan Moeller, Eddie
roster, Zeb Milan and Howard Shanks.
boys who are expected to carry the
Washington banner to the top this sea-
son.
Joe Boehling got a great hand from
the fans when he started to warm up
The smiling Richmond southpaw paid
little attention to the bugs, swinging his
good left wing in a business-like fashion
tnat brought even more applause. the
parently he liked him. Boehling GER
tainly uncorked some fine twists and
shoots.
Gets Hearty Welcome.
Wild cheering broke out, though.
when Walter Johnson climbed out of the
dugout and proceeded to warm up in a
business-like style. Even If the big
pitcher did forsake his old loves for a
moment last winter he was taken right
to the fans hearts today when he
showed up. He was shown that he
really belongs to Washington.
lie tossed the ball with John Henry
for. while, and then took his turn in
the batting practice. Every move was
followed by the fans. as If thousand
dollars hung in the balance. When he
drove a sizzling line drive to center
field he was cheered
The fans just wanted to cheer, that S
all. They wanted to show their en-
thusiasm.
And all the while the band was play
ing setting hundreds of fans stamping
In grand chorus. Prof. Pistorio knows
a lively tune when he hears 1t. and he
took great delight in having his men
playing sprightly airs that frequently
brought cheers from the fans.
At > o'clock the stand was beginning
to All up. while the pavilions were
packed. The outlook was for circus
seats on the playing field. Secretary
Fowler took a look at the throngs flock
ing to the gates. and then said that he
doped the attendance to be the greatest
in the history of the ball club.
Today Clark Grinith enters, upon his
fourth campaign as leader Of the Ma
tionals and his chances of ultimate
success appear letter than ever before.
Conditions in the league make for
better balanced teams struggling for the
pennant The overshadowing Phila-
delphia Athletics have been torn asun-
der. and contenders now have an op-
portunity to upset them.
Griffith Is Hopeful.
The prospect looks good" was the
cheering statement of Manager Grif-
fifth today. Baseball Is in for great
year. In the American League the
Athletics won't find 1t so easy to run
away with the victory now. At least
four other teams ought to be in the
hunt, and ! am proud to say that my
ball club is sure to be one of them
Further than that | cannot so. l dc
not predict pennants this early. But
| am willing to predict "A hard fight
by my club against every team higher
in the standing from the opening to
The close of the campaign All | hope
tor is a square deal. absence of in
players to perform up to their stan
dard. If 7 have this luck the Ma.
tionals may fool all who have picked
them to finish lower than first place
The New York Yankees. who draw
the honor Of opening the season in the
Nations capital, are believed to be
much stronger than they We're last
Near They are now In control of Smtl
Of the Detroit Tigers in the days o
Detroit championships. Donovan has
hundreds of friends in Washington who
will be at the ball park today TO cheel
him on.
Good Batsmen Added.
The addition of a couple of good bats
men in Walter Pipp. former first base
man at Catholic University. and HughcS
High, Ty Cobb's understudy for two
years, is expected to make considerable
difference in the Offensive strength Of
the Yankees. Doc Cook, a young out
fielder, has developed rapidly and is
now a regular, forcing that hard-hitting
earnest athlete, Roy Iiartzell, TO the
role of utility performers.
We did not have the best of weather
at Savannah" is the last word of Man
ager Donovan, but We did fairly wei
with what we had. My team looks bet
ter to me now than the club did las
season. For one thing. the Yanks have
the proper lighting spirit. They vii
take a beating. / am not picking ou
any landing place. The season is too
long. But ! do say that the Yankees
always will be ready to put up scraI
, We have luck, We may wind up in tn
FIRST division. It's a good target a
which to aim, anyway"
More than a little interest is felt b!
Washington fans in the return of Wal
ter Johnson to the Nationals. Last fal
he jumped to the Federal League ant
was thought lost to the Georgia avenu
team. However, as a Christmas pres
ent, Clark Griffith presented Washing
ton fandom with the signed contract o
Walter johnson for three more easons
The blond Shrapnel had decided to sta
with his first love and do his best 4
pitch the Nationals into a champion
ship Today's game will be his frs
attempt in this direction.
Doubt About Line Up.
Some doubt is felt concerning the Ma
tionals' lineup today in the first con
test of the season. Chick Gandil, tn
Ia first baseman, is suffering from