Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-30
READING OPENS
" SEASON TODAY
Mayor FiIbert to Throw Out FIRST
Ball at Debut OF Inter-
. national
DOOM READY FOR BlNG0ES

strains of that little ditty. And lie
Did Come Back Reading officially re
turned to the baseball map in league
way today when the 1919 pennant scrap
of the International circuit was inaugu !.
rated.
Pitted against Charley Doom and his
swiftly Organized Reading nine is the
Binghamton Club. piloted by no less
baseball character than Frank Schultz
one time member of the most famous
of famous Chicago Cubs.
For weeks Reading has been all agog
about its return to the baseball horl-
zon. Here, there and everywhere within
radius of miles about this thriving
city baseball was the uppermost topic
next to the return of the Iron Division
from France. and, of course, the Lib
erty Loan.
League baseball is not new to Read
ing. Harken back to the days of j.
Franklin Baker. when he broke so many
fences that Connie Mack decided to
take him TO the Philadelphia Athletics
where they have concrete walls. This
was the, age of the Tri State League.
Reading did itself nobly in baseball
way then, but great as were the Tri-
State days they are not to be compared
to the wonderful manner in which the
fans Of this municipality turned out to
greet Charley Doom and his favorites
at today's opening of the big little"
international League.
Handicap after handicap has been
overcome by the perseverance of the
hackers Of the Reading Club. First it
was to get an International franchise.
This was no easy task in view of the
great come back baseball is making this
year.
Fans Do Their Bit
Reading business men and fans dug
deep into their pockets for the ncces-
sary financial aid. They did not
whimper. More than a sufficient amount
was subscribed to assure winner.
Then came the matter of manager
who could whip a team into shape in
short time. Charley Doom was
promptly nominated because Of his past
experience as player and manager in
5the National League.
Doom has worked wonders in the
short time he has held the managerial
reins. Though the backstop manager
has twenty-six players here at the
present time. numbered among them be-.
ing several former big leagucrs. he does
not intend to rest on his laurels. Moth
ing short of pennant winner will sat
isfy him and he will continue to make
changes until he has found that COM
I)nation.
Reading fans are satisfied that Doom
is the man to lead them to victory.
Central Park
Came next the, Question of a cen
trally located park, e. Lauer Park. near
the heart Of the city, was the unanimous
choice, but many repairs had to be made
before the field was ready for combat
ants. Just as business men and fans
rallied to aid in bringing league club
here, so they have taken hand in as
sisting to get the park into playing
shape,
When Mayor Edward Fl. Filbert
throws out the first ball today. Lauer
Park will not be at its best because
there are a number of extensive i'm
provements still in course of construc-
tion.
II looked as though Reading would be
weak on pitchers, but the array of
talent already reported makes Doom and
Secretary Charlie Kelchner very hope
fult in this direction. Some of the
material is very promising, and inside
of two weeks Reading is expected to
have club good for the top of the sec
ond division, say fans who have seen
the men at practice.
Pitchers are Longacre and Keefe, sent
by Connie Mack Sheridan. who comes
from Brooklyn; Jack Enright, the for
mer Yankee; Bill Donohue, former
State League hurler: Brown, a young
stertwho looks promising; Smith, Gin
ley sWeinert, Hoar, and last, but not
least, Bernhart, who was star with
the Syracuse club last season.
Other players are Outfielders Bud"
weiser, Silent John Hummel, Bert
Daniels, Kline. Eckstein and Joe
Bnrns, with Portland last year; Infield-
ers Clark and Weafers, first basemen
Clouser, second base; McHale, third
base and Norton, shortstop; Catchers
HAYDEN. O'Donnell, Gregg and Mana
ger Doom.
Al new era is in store for the New
International League. That is the firm
conviction of Dave Fultz, the newly
elected president of the big class "A
minor league circuit.
While this will only be the second