The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-21

surprise those who are predicting
 heavy financial losses for the club
 owners declared John K Tener, pres
 ident of the National league. Of
 course, the outlook isn't overly bright
 tiff you are of a pessimistic turn of
 mind. But there are two sides to ev-
 erything. including 1918 baseball.
 Drafts and enlistments have taken
 thousands of fans from every nlajor
 league city. That makes a certain ele-
 ment feel that the attendance evedy-
 here will fall off. But on the oth-
 CT hand, war time is the time when
 usual so as to take their minds off
 the gloomy thoughts of conflict
 Take the theatres as an example.
 Tt was feared everywhere in the-
 atrical circles early in the winter that
 the war would ruin the amusement
 business. It was felt that because the
 war had called away hundreds of
 the trenches in France. the au-
 diences in all the playhouses would
 be reduced to corporals guard.
 And what happened? Nothing more
 nor less than that the theatres nave
 done wonderful business. Crowded
 houses have prevailed everywhere
 Those who have been left behind want
 entertainment, diversion-something to
 get their thoughts out of the morbid
 channels of bloodShed and death.
 Baseball furnishes the summer di-
 version. Not only does it bring erter-'
 tainment and thrills to the spectator,
 but it also is the means of getting
 him out into the open. Tens of thou
 sands of persons who hadn't gone to
 the theatres in years attended during the winter and more than filled the
 places of those who have gone to war
 And I feel that those same thousands who never sought diversion before, but who demand it now, will be at the baseball games in 1918 and fiji the seats of those who have gone to bat tle."
 Discussing the 1918 pennant race in the National, President Tener said Everything points to spirited con test all the way. The strengthening of the western clubs is gratifying and
 should rekindle much of the old en- l thusiasm in those places where poor teams have been the rule for some years past.
 "Of course. the Giants rule as fa-
 vortes in the race. The 1918 team isn't
 much different in makeup than the great combination of 1917 and the few gaps made by trades or refusaIs to report seem to have been plugged up in very effective manner. The Giants, naturally will have the added advantage of the confidence that comes whenever a team has climbed to the top.
 The Cubs, with Alexander, looked extremely powerful Constituted as they are now it seems certain that they will he fighting for the flag all tho way. Even with the great right hand CT drafted it leaves the strc ng- est Cub machine that Chicago has seen in many years. And the Reds there's, a club that must be watched. Christy Mathewson has put together ting punch, fielding skill and real strength in the pitching BOX. Most of Matty's twirlers tliis year are young sters but each has shown ability. The Phillies lost two wonderful players in Alexander and Killifcr. but Pat Moran retained the nucleus for good ball club. Oeschger pitched wonderful baseball in the training
 camp season and if he keeps up the Htiiiio pace uuTlns the regular season he will go long way toward keep ing the Phillies in a fairly lofty po- sition. The Cardinals are stronger to : day than they have been for many seasons and it wouldn't be at all sur
 rrisinE to see them battling right through the season with the leaders The Pirates of today look twice as strong as they did in any of the sic- cent years The trades made during the winter strengthened them and some good looking youngsters add to the belief that the representatives of Pittsburg this year will climb to d far higher ranking than any Pitts burg club has known In a long time. 'rhe Braves have been weakened by losses through the winter and 80 have 1 the Dodgers. Both clubs start the 1918 fight minus some Of their outstand- ing stars of other years Just the same that isn't any real sign that they won't put up a great fight. The Braves of 1914 didn't look much bets ter than the Braves of today. rhev were re&Rrded as certain cellar cham rIohs. But they won I worids chant- ptonghip. & 3s. ]. K < &