New-York tribune., 1918-05-10
Major Leagues Begin First
Inter-Sectional Clashes
of the Season
Bv w. ]. Macbeth


=. Yankees will usurp the local spot
~. ~ for the rest of the month. The
c;.n.s and Dodgers are away for the
,,,g swing through the Western sector
= the National League circuit. The
u.s+ern teams of the American League
.,s in the East to-day to come to the
srst grips of intersectional strife.
IN the Detroit Tigers Colonel Rup-
.,r.,s club has a most excellent week
md attraction as reward for his
...m's most successful fight of the last
,~o weeks. New York is we'll within
.,,;h;no distance of the leaders, and
..v. indeed, step out in front before
.,.norrow's sundown. Detroit at the
uoment of writing does not appear the
~ost formidable aggregation of the
aber half of the circuit by any means.
"a. IL must be remembered that De-
,~o;. for wears past has usually come
!. life with a breath of Gotham air.
\ has the faculty of playing its best
No
m. very best the Tigers can furnish
,A;s - year should throw little terror
;r.o the local ranks, for Higgins has
assembled band that can clout vi
,iously and far. Detroit has been wo-
fuIly weak in pitching to date, and
ooor pitching should furnish Murder
.,s' Row an opportunity to fatten al
r.ady surfeited batting averages. Hug
xns. on the other hand, has been able
4 Jockey his pitching staff so as to
sroyide plenty of fine southpaw twirl-
he against Ty Cobb and his left
handed swatting pals.
Mogridge, Love and Thormahlen will
III be able to appear in this series, not
io mention Russell and Caldwell. Rus
all has aways been one Of Detroit's'
,ouehest obstacles. Caldwell showed
n Ills game in Philadelphia that he is
i.st rounding into form. Next start
he should be close to the near-cham-
sion Of old
Two Tigers Popular Here
As box Office attraction Detroit
,lways was one of the most well
.ome. Ty Cobb and Hugh Jen-
sings are each worth some thousands
st admissions every day, irrespective
Of how the Tigers may be travelling.
The fact that Detroit has not been
moving at its customary strong early
sprinp pace, while the Yankees are on
their toes, will not detract from to-
. days attendance, of course.
This Detroit series is likely to be
/ one Of the most trying Of all four of
interseetional visits planned for the
Polo Grounds in the immediate future
Detroit is booked here for four
games But there will be no rest for
the two clubs over Sunday. Immed-
ately siter Saturdays game the play
ers Will board a train for Detroit.
where game will be played Sunday.
They will then make q hurried jump
back here for Mondays game. This
means FIVE games in row, with the
7erve-racking forced march to and
from Detroit thrown in as an addi-
! tional temperamental obstacle.
The St. Louis Browns, who tackle the
late pacemaking Red Sox in Boston to-
day, will follow the Tigers into this
city for four games. After them come
the worlds champion White Sox for
fou, games. Cleveland is to be the last
Western club showing here. Four
games are booked at the Polo Grounds,
\ With another side trip. On Sunday,
Nay 26, New York and Cleveland will
ump to the Forest City for a Sabbath
httle.
To Show Balance of Power
These intersectional games of both
major leagues will give the first possi-
ele line on the true balance Of the
american and National circuits. The
Gants have simply run wild against
iAelr Eastern rivals, and unless the
!our Western clubs can furnish sitter
spposition than was furnished Nc
unw's champions so far John K. Tener
sght as we'll concede the race to New
Isrk and start another one with proper
|. hhdicaps. The Giants will appear in
Vrn IN the cities of Pittsburgh, Gin
anatl, st. Louis and Chicago, playing
n3r games in each town but Redland,
mere five are booked.
After winding up to-day's series in
Ssston the Dodgers and Braves will
asa to Cincinnati and Chicago respec-
assly These games, as we'll as those
ae Giants will be playing in Pitts
suyh meanwhile, should give pretty
,Nf line on the relative strength of the
last and West so far as the National
League field is concerned.