The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-06

Chicago, October 5-With ideal weather promised. the opening game of the thir- teenth annual worlds series, under the rules of the national baseball commission, will be played here tomorrow between the Chicago Americans and the New York Nationals. Indications point to a capacity crowd and tonight Chicago s fandom is displaying intense interest.
 Although the sharp change in the weather was noted today. members of the two teams state they are in the pink of condition and will not be handicapped by either rain or shine.
 On the eve of the start of the crucial series, betting is about even, although odds on the White Sox to win the series and the Giants to win the first game can be obtained. Betting is unusually heavy, with prospects of increasing even more tomorrow.
 SCALPERS RETURN MONEY
 Scalpers who had promised to have plenty of tickets for the opening game were busy today making deliveries to 8 few customers and returning money to others. Their supply was said to be far less than the demand.
 At the first appearance of the tickets at the offices of the brokers $50 was asked for one ticket, good for three games, for which $15 was charged at the park. As the supply of tickets in their hands became exhausted the scalpers be- gan to talk of a raise in price and 1t was predicted today that the price might be double the amount first asked before the game is called tomorrow afternoon.
 Grandstand reservation, selling at the park for $1.5o, were not to be had from the scalpers, although one broker offered to deliver tickets of this class Saturday noon at s15 for the three games.
 MAY REJECT TICKETS
 Corporation Counsel Samuel Ettelson caused some uneasiness among purchas- CTS of scalpers' tickets by announcing that anyone found with tickets pur- chased from scalpers would be denied admission to the park. He stated that the name of every ticket purchaser was known and that all admissions would De subject to check.
 Scalpers are refusing to take any lia- bility for the tickets and also refuse to take the two unused tickets at face value.
 The national baseball commission met today for the purpose of giving final instructions to the four umplreS who will officiate in the game and outlining the ground rules and other playing condi- tons to the arbiters. scorers and man agers.
 CICOTTE VS. SCHUPP
 Much interest today centered on the question of the two pitchers in the first game. Manager Rowland of the White 6ox refused to commit himself, but many have picked Eddie Cicotte as the prob ably starter for the locals Cicotte worked out yesterday afternoon and said afterwards he was ready to start the big series at any time.
 Ferdinand Schupp, the left handed star of the New York Giants, is the most frequently mentioned to open the series for the visitors.
 That out fans are not to see the games in as great numbers as had been expected, was stated at White Sox headquarters today. Requests for tickets in large numbers from several cities had been received, but were turned down. or the allotments cut. Dubuque, Ia, the home of Manager Rowland, sent a repre- sentative after 800 tickets, but he was able to get only 75.
 GIANTS PRACTICE
 The Giants practiced at White Sox park this afternoon. They were given all the time needed in order to become accus-