Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-10
BASEBALL LID LIFTED
Major Leagues 70 Open 1917 Season
Wednesday - Presidents Toner and
johnson Predict Successful Year.

wednesday - ProSldenSs 6ner ana
johnson Predict Successful Year.
National League.
New York at Boston.
Philadelphia at Brooklyn. a@
Pittsburgh at Chicago.
st. Louis at Cincinnati.
American League.
Chicago at st. Louis. &
Cleveland at Detroit.
Washington at Philadelphia.
Boston at Boston.
New York, April 1O.-On the eve ot
the annual pennant races in the major
baseball organizations the executives OF
both the National and American
leagues have prepared the following
statements for the Associated Press,
outlining their views of the coming sea-
sons play.
President John X. Tener of the Ma
tional league says:
"Basing an ante-season Judgment
upon conditions and expectations as
find, them wherever / go, l am led to
believe that baseball generally will en-
joy prosperous season in 1917 OF
course / make this statement mindful
that the contingency of war pressed
with vgor on laid and sea might act as
a deterrent on what otherwise I'M
doubtedly would prove one of the best
years baseball ever has experienced.
rs 4ho all, RI
the major leagues.
Speaking especially of the National
league ] am convinced that the race
this year will be quite as keen and in
teresting as it was last season. look
for great battle for honors right up
to the end of the championship sched-
ule. + am conscious that the general
public expects the New York Giants to
win the pennant without any trouble.
will take his team to the front and grad
in fact many think Manager McGraw
will take his team to the front and
gradually widen the gap between the
Giants and the other contenders until
the former will make walk over race
Of the schedule.
Il do not entertain any such idea.
The other clubs should give New York
a stiff fight and stranger things in
baseball have happened than that the
favorite fails to win. 1t is true that Of
fensively and defensively the Giants
are a powerful combination but Brook
iyn, Philadelphia and Boston. all good
teams last year and the Quakers and
Braves all contenders for the title right
up to the finish will have something to
say about the disposition of the PEN
nant this year. All three Of these clubs
look stronger than last year.
Then again the west may furnish
some surprises that the public little
anticipate. Undoubtedly Pittsburgh
has strengthened by the addition OF
young material. These youngsters
made the Pirates quite formidable at
the close of last season. Mathewson
At all events the Reds are pretty GER
tain to be superior to the form they
showed last year.
"Chicago will begin the season han
dicapped by the loss Of Captain Doyle
ut the team may be expected to play
the very best ball of which it inherent
ly is capable under Manager Mitchell,
for whose ability I have the highest re-
spect. In st. Louis the new organizers
are beginning the season on the policy
Of building new from the ground up.
Therefore Manager Higgins will be
given q free hand not only to use all Of
the young blood at his disposal hut 9th:
er new players will be sought with the
hope that the team may be strengthen
ed to become contender for the pen
nant."
President b. b. Johnson Of the Amer
lean league says:
I'm the history of the (, American
league there was never a year when
the organization was so well equipped
for championship race, "A few days
ago I received a letter. from Connie
Mack, in which he gave me the assur-
ance that he had vastly improved
team over the club of last year and
one that was sure to prove a factor in
the championship contest. If we can
accept this declaration. then there are
eight contenders we'll balanced for a
grueling fight this season.
Everyone will concede that Chicago
Boston, New York and Detroit are
bound to be prime favorites. The
Cleveland club has been greatly streng-
lICucu. WHICH Is dLL"otSu ny lAIC low
that Morton shows this early in the
spring all the strength he developed in
the beginning of last season. Joe Wood
claims his right arm has been we'll re-
stored, so with Coveleskie, Bagby and
Ilepfer in support, Cleveland is sure to
have formidable staff Of pitchers.
Many wise baseball men contended
last fall that New York would have
carried off the prize, had it not been
for the innumerable accidents that put
some Of it's best players out Of commits
sion during the summer.
1.-The st. Louis club, under the leader
ship Of Jones. must be reckoned with.
Had the Browns started their tremen-
dous drive bit earlier in the season.
the pennant might have gone to the or
ganization representing the city by the
big bridge. We all know of Boston's
worth, and the fighting spirit of the
Senators, under the guidance of that
wise and skilled manager, Clark-Grif-
fifth.
War may place an indelible mark
upon our patronage, but it can not
stamp out contest that is sure to be
seen, thorough and exciting from the
tap Of the bell until the finish in Oc.,
tober.'