The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-13
Big Show to Get Under Way in American Monday Tener Circuit Starts Tues day-Opening Schedule.

Wo6k VIII WlluSSS tle OpeuluS OL dh- other major league baseball season with the playing of the initial games in the American and National League schedules of 1918. Although enlist ments and the draft have caused many of the players to change their dia- mond uniforms for those of either the army or the navy, the prospects point to the carrying on of the game this summer with the same keen rivalry that has marked the sport in past years.
 Considered broadly there appears to be about the usual distribution of playing talent and strength as in for mer pennant races for where one club has improved it's combination, an other has lost one or more of its for midable players thus, in a general way. evening up the situation. In the National League the Cincinnati, St. Louis and Chicago teams on pa per, at least, appear to be stronger than was the case twelve months ago. The New York club, winner of the 1917 pennant, does not strike the close student of the game as being quite as impressive as last season, while both Brooklyn and Philadelphia are scarcely as strong as a year ago.
 The Chicago White Sox stand out as the ranking fayorite in the Amer1- can League for the combination will begin the season fully as powerful as when the team closed the 1917 cam- paign with the double laurels of pen nant winners and World Champions. Among the other clubs the New York Yankees are undoubtedly stronger in every department, with the exception of pitchers, than was the case last year. The Boston Red Sox are more or less of an uncertain quantity yet many of their followers expect them to be the surprise of the league. Cleveland, Detroit and Washington are about up to the standard of last season if not a trifie stronger, while the Philadelphia Athletics with a number of youngsters in the lineup cannot be figured upon in advance.
 In considering the prospects Of the coming season the executives of the two major leagues take cognizance of war time conditions in relation to baseball yet are confident that the na- tional sport will not decline in qual- ity of play or in it's hold upon it's followers, since patriotism and recrea- tion are necessarily connected at this time. In a statement specially prepared for the Associated Press, President Tener gives his views as follows:
 Baseball, in common with all oth- CT outdoor sports, in my opinion, should be encouraged in times of war as well as in times, of peace. Base ] ball really had it's origin during the Civil War when soldiers in that great conflict benefited themselves physical ly and in spirit by engaging in this, then, new game. This was true with thes oldiers in our war with Spain, at it is true with our brave boys today who have enlisted under the colors and are either in the camps here or at the front in France.
 ''F'rom the very inception of the present war England has realized that to keep her soldiers fit they must be given opportunity to indulge in their favorite sports, and, by gov ernment appropriation, that country has used a large sum of money for the purchaap of athletic parapherna- lia for use of the athletes of her army. President Wilson has given every encouragement to, and in fact, has urged, the continuance of out door sports during the war.
 s Under the Selective Draft or Con- scription Act, professional baseball players are called to the service of their country precisely the same as those in any other profession, voca- ton or walk in life, and have an swered, and are just as ready to an swer the call either by enlistment or draft as other patriotic citizens; but until that call comes, they must, as they should, continue to earn their livelihood in the profession which gives to them the greatest compensat- ing return and in which they are most expert. Many players have en. listed, and under the operation o1 the draft law baseball has furnished it's quota
 we all realize especially at this hour, the pressing call that is upor each of us to aid our country in do ing all in our power to quickly fur nish men and means to combat the enemy and to ensure an early and complete victory to our arms; anC this effort will be best sustained b9 getting into the open and into the sunshine occasionally and by either witnessing or participating in out. door sports to gain that health ana vigor' and alertness of intellect neces sary to do we'll the work that may come to our hand.
 Canada for years past has played and accepted baseball almost to tht exclusion of other summer sports, anC has carried the game into EnglanC and, with our own boys, is now play ing it in France, where in fact al the troops of the Allied armies en gage in playing our national game which seems to have in it the yer, spirit and inspiration that fits tn, player for the supreme effort of tn soldier
 While we must all do our ut most for our country at this time, W must also have our hour of recrea ton, and to recreate the body an sharpen our senses, I know of n better tonic than baseball"
 OPENING GAMES.
 National League.
 Tuesday, April 16
 At New York-Brooklyn vs. Ne7 York.
 At hiladelphia-Boston vs. Phil