The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-12
RECONSTRUCTED YANKEES AND CONFIDENT
DODGERS TO OPEN LOCAL SEASON TO-DAY
BATTING ORDER POLO GROUNDS.

The major league baseball season Of
1915 opens to-day. The eight clubs II
each Of the National and American cir
cults are paired for the first ella shes OF
a now pennant struggle. The public has
reason 10 believe. from the results OF the
ante-season exhibition games. that all
sixteen contenders are unusually well
prepared for the start.
As usual the greater city is we'll pro-
Nded with attractions. Washington, for
several seasons a dark horse OF Ban
Johnson's company. will appear at the
Polo Grounds this afternoon against Iili
Donovan's reconstructed Yankees. At
Ebbets Field the Brooklyn Dodgers, who
showed through the last half Of the 1918
campaign a team strength equal to that
OF the sensational Philadelphia cham
pions of the Tener ring. will he opposed
by the highly regarded Boston Braves
in command Of George Sia,lings. Friends
OF the Giants will have TO wait a few
days to see their idols In action here.
McGraw's team this year drew an out Of
o. opening. This afternoon in Ph.la-
delphia Macs men meet no less worthy a
foe than the Phillies. champions OF last
year.
Throughout the spring training Of the
major league clubs there has been shown
here and elsewhere generally "A wonder
full revival Of baseball interest. The
great summer game had reached the
zenith Of public popularity at the time
the Federal League IA organized. This
outlaw body proved an evil influence.
Stars were won away from organized
baseball through the lure OF unprece-
denied nay. Fandom lost faith In the
integrity Of its heroes. Ii was sickened
by the widely advertised commercialism
that the new era OF baseball wrought.
1ronclad contracts destroyed the prin-
ciples OF club discipline and made mere
hgureheads Of the cleverest nag
Forgiveness for Players.
But baseball to-day Is once more back
pretty well where II was three years
ago. The terms OF the recently CON
cluded baseball peace pact lent "A new
stimulus to general interest. In par
donlng the promoters OF the revolution
AIRY faction forgiveness was ALSO eN-
tended to all players who had cast their
lot with the outlaws The stars Of the
independents were absorbed by the six
teen major league clubs.
The public seems most anxious to see
first hand how closely these in fastest
coHlphny VIII i've w ~ rei'rtl League
records. Players thrown onto the mar
ket through the collapse OF the Federal
League enabled the weaker clubs of the
two major circuits to strengthen weak
spots. II IL the opinion Of those who
have studied the situation closely that
the absorption Of outlaw talent has left
the fields Of both the National and
American leagues far better balanced
than at any previous time.
Greater New York. for the present at
least. f,atters itself that the bitter winter
months rave wrought changes of won
derful promise for the three local repre-
sentatives Of fast company. Disillusion-
ment may come later. but now. every
where. the critics concede all of the
Giants. Yankees and Dodgers AT least
are not outside pennant prospects, This
happy condition never before prevailed
on the eve Of q campaign.
Doubtless the greatest individual cN-
ample Of local strengthening has been
accomplished by the New York Amer,-
cans. Within one year OF securing the
club Col. Rupert and Capt. Huston
spent a round sl50.000 for new material.
They got something really worth while
foi the expenditure. Home Run Baker.
the heaviest gun around which Connie
Mack laid four %pennants in five years, is
playing a game to-day the equal OF any
thing he ever played. The years llyoff
has not dlmmed his batting eye nor
slowed his fielding skill. Lee Magce. one
OF the greatest stars OF the Federal
League, is another giant OF offensive
and defensive strength. So appears
Gedeon, the new second baseman &C.
cured from the Federal bargain counter.