The Washington times., 1919-01-23

1t is reported that 1000 reserva-
tions have already been received by
Frank Bancroft for the opening game
in Redland. That indicates the seeth-
ing condition of the fans headpieces
now. Opening day is always one
grand celebration for the Reds fol-
lowers. 1t may be true that they
don't follow long, but they sure do
turn out a mob for the first contest
OF the season
One reason for this may be the sort
or dope fed to the Redlanders be-
tween seasons. They, win their pen
nants in the winter and lose 'em in
the summer, as some comedy gent
has put 1t. For instance, Bill Phelan,
veteran scribe in Redland, SAYS this
ought to be a great year for Cincin-
natl, proving it by the calendar. He
goes back into history, showing that
the old Cincinnati Red Stockings
were unbeaten champions of the
world in 1860. That was just fifty
years ago. Therefore-well, you get
it, don't you?
Read PheIas's Dope.
What's the use OF keeping it back
Here. read Phelon's dope for your
self:
What could be so appropriate
for Cincinnati as the winning of
the honors last gained fifty years
ago?
True, there was one flag at
Cincinnati, back in 1SS2-but
there was no worlds champion
ship in those days; the victory
was gained. in the merry old
american Association. and many
fans have forgotten that such a
nag was ever won, while no true
lover of the game has forgotten,
or can ever forget, the deeds of
1883. A triumph gained in 1919,
after the lapse of fifty gray, dis
appointing years, would be an
epic in baseball shining page
in the history of the game.
Teh Reds, as now lined up. even
If not REINFORCED before the OPEN
ing of the season, are tremend-
ously powerful club. They arc
acknowledged strong contenders
everywhere. All clubs fear and
respect them. THE club that
beats out Cincinnati wins the
fiag," is the way many baseball
leaders and sage critics state the
situation. In former years, it was
uniformly, sorrowfully admitted
that the Reds didn't have a
anu lndI Iney would do
we'll to finish in the first division.
This year nobody thinks OF the
Reds finishing below the first
division. 1t is only a question of
how far up in the first brigade
they can end the season-and
even the sanguine McGraw, the
flag winning Mitchell, count them
as dangerous foes.
1S69-1919. Why shouldn't Gin
cinnati do it all again?
The Idea Spreads.
A Cincinnati writer once came IN
Washington and he brought along with
him several bottles of the best and
strongest diamond dope. He began
serving it out to Washingtonians. lust
as soon as the football season neared
its end. he began shooting his dope
into the bugs. II meant nothing that
jim McAleer owned only the old sst
and slowest players in the American
League, they loomed up like pennant
winners in the winter
The coming of Clark Griffith was
great stuff for the hop factory. Those
high finishes in 1912, 1913. and 1914
drove Washington fans well-nigh crazy,
Thus far Washington has won no
pennants. The style of claiming. a Ia
Cincinnati. pennants in the winter has
passed away in the Capital
Today the Grifrmen are shaping I'd
for the coming campaign, but WASH
ington scribes are claiming No
triumphs. 1t is well known that the
coming race is TO be a tough one,
The ultimate victors will know thew
were in a hot scrap. IL the Griffs
play good ball. they will satisfy most
OF their admirers. II is now known
that considerable luck enters into nen.
nant triumphs- But in Cincinnati
they discount the luck, put a bit more
dope into the pipe and dream on and
On and on.