The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
HEYDLER PLEASED
Il WITH SITUATION
Despite Poor Weather Splendid
Crowds Attended Major
League Contests.
EXPECTS A GOOD RACE
Declares No Team in National
League Will Have a
WalkOyer.
BY sHORTsTOP.

DeSplto the poor weather which mas
prevailed almost from the start Of the
major league season. April 90. John
Hoydler. president OF the National
League. already sees signs OF one of the
best baseball seasons In years.
I'VE have had lot of wet and cold
weather since We got started" said
Heydler yesterday, but the remarkable
part Of 1t is that when people get half
chance TO come out they come out in
droves think this also has been the
case in the other league.
II was or course very sorry to have
inclement weather halt our games, as
II would have been an interesting test
10 see Just how many persons ball games
would draw in our first month of base
ball. 1t would have given us an idea
regarding the attitude of the public
on sports this year.
81 for ono do not think that great
strides in other sports hurt baseball.
Like many other baseball men 1 get my
recreation playing golf. and like to see
all sports, golf. tennis and football, as
we'll as baseball. in full swing My ex-
perience Is II IL Is good sport year all
around II is n great baseball year Some
persons have the impression that big
racing seasons hurt baseball, but
never have found that TO be the case
My experience has been that the racing
and baseball crowds usually are differ
emit Some racing men like baseball and
Vice versa but on the whole you will
fnd that the two sports have distinct
foliowinga"
Expects n Tight Race.
Heydler thinks the piaying OF the
National League teams In the first fort
right ~ his leagues season gives indica-
lions Of n real old fashioned race.
From what the teams have shown so
far l expect to see a real race in the
National League this year. with quite
few teams vitality interested" contin-
ued Heydler. There were many per-
sons who told us in advance that Chi
Cages pitching stan was so strong that
no other team in the league had a
chance. but the Cubs have had pretty
tough opposition so far despite their own
fine pitching.
You heard little about the Cincinnati
and Philadelphia clubs in the spring
yet Cincinnati is playing in a way most
pleasing to the fans in Ohio. Pat Moran
evidently Is working another miracle.
There seems to be something almost un-
canny TO a teams play after Moran
takes charge. Pat certainly has brought
results
philadelphia may be weak IN pitch
ers. but 1t has shown an offence that
has given rival managers something to
worry about. Brooklyn with its strong
pitchers, and New York with heavy
hitting club, all promise to make 1t ex-
citing for all Corners. Pittsburg has
several fine young players. and will
make a strong fight this year. Some
body has to start of poorly. and Boston
and st. Louis are the clubs now in the
nut. But they are not bad ball teams,
and are likely to hit their stride at any
time
Difficult to Judge Teams.
80 many teams are made up OF new
men that II will be some time before one
Is able to get n true line on the strength
OF the different clubs. This year We
cannot Judge teams by their past per
fOrmances There still are quite a Few
pitchers In scrvice who may change the
prospects OF clubs.
"The Cardinals, for instance, believe
that Jack Miller's return will ste .hy
their team. Miller always was a glsai.
fellow In that way. He is an aggressive
rhap and knows how to hold up an tn
feld
Then Boston unQuestionably will look
different with Hank Gowdy back OF the
hat and Meanwhile playing his usual
game at shortstop. Despite what may DO
srid. 4 player Is at a decided dlsadvan-
tage II no tries to Jump into n game
without any preliminary training. Ma
ranville may have had a little practice
playing with sailor teams in Cuba, but a
player does not get the same practice
that way as he does in stiff practice con-
tests with teams of a rival major league
The return of a player like Ward also
may make a big change in the Brooklyn
club, which already looks strong. Ward
was one OF the best defensive infielders
we had before he went into the army
Place strong inheld behind that Brook
Ign pitching STAFF and 1t will be a hard
club for any team to down.
II am not making any predictions.
.Snerely discussing our general situation.
After the Giants were beaten out last
season after winning eighteen OF their
first nineteen games, I decided I never
would venture another guess on the out
come 20 a baseball race. especially on a
spring Ghowing."