The Daily Missoulian., 1918-04-14
Baseball Lids off
Tomorrow Afternoon
American League Teams Get Flying Start in 1918 Pennant
Race; National League Defers Initial Contests
Until Tuesday Afternoon

loTnolFbW ttle nineteenth annual race
Of the American league will get under
way, with Connie Mack's much camou-
flaged Athletics meeting Ed Barrows'
Red Sox at Fcnway park. Boston, and
Miller Huggins' Yankees batting
against Walter Johnsons speed at the
Washington baseball park, in the pres
ence OF the president and other dig
nitaries, who even in these war times
are expected to take sufficient respite
from the worries of the war to enjoy
the opening Of the season.
1t should be easy to pick the winners
Of the opening games. too, for Boston
should trim Mack's team, which again
seem destined to be q hopeless second
division team, while Walter Johnson is
out to add another to his string OF ini-
tial-game victories. Walter has pitched
the opening game for Washington ever
since the spring Of 1909, and has been
defeated but once. having six shutouts
to his credit in the initial games. It's
generally a cold. dark day in Washing
ton about the time opening day comes
around and the battcrs keep one foot
in the water-bucket and hand on
the life insurance policy when they
face Sir Walters shoots
/ The season proper will not start un-
til Tuesday, however. all the teams of
the American and National leagues
playing on that day, weather and wind
permitting. t-
In the American league the Chicago
White Sox. the Boston Red SoX and
the Detroit Tigers loom as the three
strongest teams, with the Yankees in
the battle If their pitching staff doesn't
/ collapse. and the Cleveland Indians and
the Washington Senators an outside
possibility. due to the possession of In
dividuai stars of supcrlative playing
ability. ,r.
| The White SoX retain practically the
same team which won the worlds
championship last fall, having Gandil.
Eddie Collins, Weaver, McMullon and
Risbcrg in the infield. jackson, Felsch,
John Collins, Leibold and Murphy in
the outfield, Schalit and Lynn behind
the bat, and Fabcr. Cicottc, Russell
Benz. Danforth and Williams on the
mound.
The Red fox have through judicious
| buying and trading reinforced their
team SO that II looms as "A contender
under Manager Barrows and Captain
IIoblitzcl, who will play first
with Evcrs, Scott. Thomas and Nc
Innes in the infield, Hooper, Strunk
and Whitemau in the outtield, Schang
land Apnew behind the bat. and Joe
in the box.
Has Jennings Pitchers?
Detroit has fair catching staff. q
fast infield with Dresser. Young, Bush
and Witt performing and smuggling
Ioutficld, including the uusurpassabl,
l"Ty" Cobb, Bob Ncach and Harry Hell.
Imam. but his hurling staff presents q
lproblCm, though Boland. pauss, Gun;
tniNgham, CoNalcskic and Jones may
come through with Erickson kallo ant
Hall possibilities.
| Cleveland has been hard hit by tn,
draft and cniistments and needs /;
hard hitting catcher to help O'Neiil
a couple of good pitchers to aid Nor
ton. Bagby and Covaleskie, and a frs
baseman, as well as a slugging out
fielder. Fohrs present infield in
cIudcs Kavanaugh. Wambsganss
Chapman and Turner, while the gar
deners are Speaker, Graney and Roth
!. New York is stronger than in tn
past. with an infield composed q
Pipp, Pratt, Peckinpaugh and Home
Run" Baker. and with Bodie. Higf
Marsans and Gilhooley in the outtielt
, Walters and Hannah are the first
string catchers, while the main reli
, ance of the pitching staff are Low
Caldwell and a couple youngsters.
Washington will again rely on II
pitching staff, which Is mainly Waite
Johnson, though Harper, Shaw an
Z Ayers may aid. The backstop depar
!. !. ment Is weak. the infield won't avera,
;. over .2AO. with Judge. Morgan. Laws
and Foster in the game. and Shank
Milan and Shotten don't supply mu,
9 strength for the outfiela,
st, Louis doesn't loom very strou