The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-12
King Baseball Returns
To Reign Again Over
Millions of Americans
With Smiling Skies and an Expectant Public, Game
Starts Today to Regain Place 1t Once Held as
e Most Popular of American Sports
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

Today is the day Of days.
In eight of the biggest cities in the
land brawny athletes, trained to the
minute. start upon a grind not to cease
till the chill days of october.
King Baseball mounts his throne and
the fans numbering into tho millions,
are happy.
Tho King has been Ill unto death for
two long years. Federalitis was eat
ing into his vitals. For a time II looked
as IL he would perish from the earth.
Those astute physicians. Ban John
son. Garry Hermann. John X. Tenor.
and Harry Sinclair. gathered In con-
sultation. and, after everything pos
slble had been tried. the King gasped.
shook his head and began to live
again.
Today the King mounts his throne
and announces to all the world that he
Is as strong az every.
The American League. the lusty son
OF the National. gets under way at
New York, Boston. Chicago. and Glove
land. The National League will enter
tain the fans OF philadelphia. Brooklyn,
1T. Louis, and Cincinnati. And the
outlook Is most propitious.
marvelously well balanced race
and the other major organization has
almost as many teams OF equal
strength. This year OF 1916 will see no
runaway scramble. 1t will be fought
right down to the concluding weeks OF
Today Washington's attention is To-
cused on New York, where Walter
Johnson win lead the Nationals against
Ray Caldwell and the Yankees.
Now York. for the first time in years.
will today pay tribute to King Base
ball with a lurking suspicion that the
Yankees will finish in first place. Bill
Donovan has been given many new
players of skill and experience. His
hopes are high.
Frank Baker. for years Connie Mack
slugger, Is with the Yankees. Lee Ma
Federal League. is with the Yankees.
Gilhooley, a star of the International
League last season; Cullop,s Fed of
Pacific Coast Leagues most brilliant
performer last season, are all with the
Yankees and 1t Is upon those lads that
New York banks.
Clark Griffith has added a few new
men to his team. the young first base
man, Joe Judge. being the most i'm
portant. II the Griffmen get away to a
good start. many fans believe that their
strong twirling corps will be able to
keep the team in the first division.
champion Red Sox are starting with
little better chance than the Yanks,
White Sox. or Tigers. The odds have
come down against their winning the
: ultimate honors until today many fans
believe that the 1915 pennant will go
to the W est, If II doesn't go to New
York.
Cleveland. aided by Chick Gandil and
iris speaker, with new owners in
charge of the club, is expected to make
a fight against every contender in the
league.
Hughey Jennings still has Cobb,
Crawford, and Veach. With a pitcher
or two to work consistently, the Tigers
may yet pass along In triumph into the
worlds series of 1916.
Charlie Comiskey has a wonderfully
fast tearl In his white Sox. Last year
they held a lead far into the warm
weather. The pitchers cracked under
the strain and the team failed In the
net beer overworked, and the fans OF
Chicago believe the flag Will come
back for the first time since 1906,
Browns Are Promising.
In st. Louis Fielder Jones has the
and. the ugh losing the spring series to
the Cards, the Brownies should be most
troublesome.
Only in Philadelphia Is the outiool
bad for the American League. Connie
Mack's collection of athletes seen
doomed TO the cellar from the beginning
The National League presents a strong
four clubs are considered to have
chances to win the gonfalon OF 1916
The I'hillies, winners last season. will
carry small edge on that account. but
they Will have sturdy opposition.
fhe Boston Braves who cracked last