Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-12
ALEXANDER TO PITCH FIRST
GAME OF SEASON FOR PILLS
IN SERIES WITH NEW YORK
Continued from Page One


impressive t.eather.luneed rooters tried
out their voices after a hard winter and
soon got into good condition TO indulge
I'm personalities with Mr. Rigler the hard
working umpire.
as an added attraction Mr. Smith, the
well-knuwn Mayor of our city, viii pitch
the fRrst ball from his box seat on the
sdellnes. His Honor Is said Go have good
control and has been practioing all week
to get hop on his fast one. Special
preparations have been made to guard
against Mr. Smiths arm going back on
him at critical moment
Everything looks lovely for the gala oc-
casion and only the sinister shadow of
the aforementioned weather man can crab
the act. Let him beware!
When r. Moran and NJ McGraw toss
their two high.salaried machines into the
diamond this afternoon they will start
what Is expected to be one Of the greatest
seasons in the history of baseball. Four.
teen other managers will do the same
thing, but we care nothing for that The
regular stuff will be pulled In OUR midst,
for 1t will bring together the best and the
worst teams in the league last year and
give us a line on the relative strength of
the other clubs.
This opening should carry quite a lit
tie interest, as It Is the first big game of
the season and the initial appearance of
the National League champions since the
Boston disaster last fall. Pat Moran still
has faith in his own machine and has not
even attempted to bolster any OF the posi-
tons He will unleash the same flock of
players that drew salaries last year and
hope that his dope is correct.
Alexander, as usua will be on the firing
line, and Eddie Burns will sit in for Bill
Killefer behind the bat
an almost entirely new battle front. Many
of the weak spots have been strengthened
by former Federal League stars and much
10 expected of the team. New York did
not take kindly to a tail-end club last year
and expense was not spared to get the
best in the shop. McGraw's men have
packed a lot Of strength since last year
and they will do their best to get the jump
from the start.
The outcome of this series should have
an important bearing on the pcnnant race.
A lead early in the season is difficult to
overcome, as was shown last year when
the Phils copped II in row and left the
other clubs far, In the rear. Mr.. McGraw
noticed this ana it is believed that he will
try to steal some of Pats stuff this year.
But aside from this usual dope, the
really big thrill is supposed % bubble out
in the first local appearance of Benjamin
Michael KHuff the shrinking violet of
the visitors. Benjamin has been billed
bigger than Barnum's circus and the
mere fact that he is to participate in the
fracas will cause many additional clicks
on the turnstiles. Benny has received
more advertising than President Wilson.
Theodore Roosevelt or any one else in
the public eye, and today we will see
whether 1t pays to advertise.
Mr.. Kauff will not fine Ty Cobb hang
Ing around to engage in mortal competi-
IL. FNVtN,
in the person of n Mr. Cravath. fence
buster of great renown. Mr.. Cravath has
been getting away with some sweet swats
in the preliminary games and when pit
ted against the self-cOnfessed marvel from
N'Yawk our local pride should step
trihe faster This duel should be eNcit-
ing and the victor is entitled to say any
thing he pleases about himself.
1t has been said that Kauff can hit
the ball any old place he cares to. In
one of .iIe games last year Miner Brown,
of s.. Louis, spoke few kind words
from the pitchers box and Benny, very
much peeved, shouted:
"You poor old fish, I'm gonna knock yer
head off with the next ball you pitch -
Brown grinned, eased one over and
Kauff took a mighty swing. He connected
and the ball brushed off Mr. Browns
cap on its journey to centre field,
Other stories have been told of the mar
VelOuS nltllnB dDlllly VI lIe ldlNSlouo
player, and II they are true, remember, IF
they are true, the old right-held fence
will get a big play in the matinee today.
All Benny will have to do is to lift few
over the top and indulge in persihage with
Cravath while touring the bases.
But Benny will be in the limelight
whether he makes good or not. If he
whales the cover off the ball, his vivid
personality will make itself known and If
he doesn't, he'll make a lot of noise any
way But be that as 1t may, the fans
will be on the job just the same, as they
are anxious to take a slant at ball
player who can draw as much attention
as Tyrus Cobb without having appeared
in major league game. And that's SOME
job
Just prior to the starting of play the
PLAYERS who were members of the cham
pionship team of last year will be pre-.
sented with handsome and valuable gifts,
The presentation speeches will be made
by r. T. Stotesbury, Senator James P.
McNichol and Fred II. Chandler, vice
president of the club, members of the COM
mittee selected to choose a suitable pres
ent for the men who brought baseball
fame and glory to this city last year
The gifts will be distributed 10 the players
by William +. Baker. president Of the
club.
Mayor Thomas B. Smith and the mem.
bers OF his cabinet will be present as
guests of the club and Mayor Smith will
toss out the new ball. The musical pro-
gram will be as follows;
1-March Flag OF Victory .. Won Blum
2-oyeTtuTs, "orpheus in Der EndeTwalt''
Offenbach
9-solO Tor eoFhst. love, Here is My s,
6-selsctlon. aHis Honor. the Mayor
s-cOncert wpltzes from ''Fhe Singing
7-AmerIean sketch, '"DowSin SOUTH ,Gfydeitoh
s-Po2ulSr .rk kAlonf the IA 8i4ito Nc Eeiist b6ibl
10-AIarch. '"rhe National Spirit new
Hummel
The New York Giants aTT.Ved IN town
late last night. They left the train at
North Philadelphia and went directly TO
the Hotel Majestic. Manager MeGraw
was in an optimistic mood and said be-
fore leaving New York last night that
be expected TO get away to a flying start
by winning the series from the Phillies,
From last place year ago TO first