Evening star., 1919-04-20
DY DENMAN THOMPSON.

On the eve of tie opening of AN
other championship season prognos-
tications on the outcome of the two
major league races are in order.
Every one is entitled to his own opinion.
and it might be said at this stage
Of the game, before the campaign
actually has opened, that one guess
is as good as another. But to our
way Of thinking, a man who has seen
majority of the teams in action
has a big edge as a prophet on one
who forms his conclusions merely
from studying the line-ups as they
appear in reports of the preseason
the mass of dope" being wired north
by the small army of scribes who ac-
companied the various teams on their
conditioning expeditions.
Opinion of an Expert.
Robert W. (Tiny) Maxwell. a not
able figure in the world of sport since
he was picked as an all-American
linesman when playing with the
Swarthmore College eleven, acknowl-
edged one of the best foot ball refer
ees in the country. and at present
sporting editor and base ball expert
Of the Philadelphia Evening Ledger,
recently completed an extended tour
of the major league training camps,
where he saw the teams in action.
interviewed the managers and play :
ers and formed conclusions that should
carry weight.
ing one of the best posted base ball
writer's in the country. Being located
in Philadelphia, where he has the
opportunity of seeing the teams of
both major circuits, he has wide
acQuaintence among the athletes and
from the Closeup" inspection of the
various teams he has formed some
opinions as to their relative strength
that are more than ordinarily worth
while He views coincide so nearly
with ours we are willing to present
them as such, especially when it is
taken into account he has the great
advantage of having gotten around
to see the players performing.
Maxwell visited the camp of the
Griffmen in addition to the others
and when the team reached Char
lotte, N c., he had finished his tour
and was in attendance on the Phil
lies. His views on the pennant races
were given during tanning bee at the
hotel. Here is the way he sizes up the
prospects of the sixteen contenders for
championship honors in the American
and National leagues.
Popularity of Game Evident.
at might be difficult to sit down
and dope the pennant winners of the
this time, but it's a cinch to get up
| National and American leagues at
and fearlessly state that base ball will
be more popular than ever before and
the magnates, players and fans VIII
be perfectly satisfied this season.
While visiting all of the big league
training camps in this section of the
exhibition games, I.found wi1d-eyed
fans, hard-working. players and smil-
ing business managers. The fans
were anxious to see the games, the
players were working to hold their
jobs and the business managers were
kept busy counting the money which
poured into the box Office.
with the players and public eager
ly awaiting the opening of the sea-
son. the popularity of base ball can
the game has been showed out of the
picture by the war, but is back again
stronger than ever. They are in bet
ter physical condition due to their
work in the Army. Navy and ship
yards.
with the players in good physical
condition and anxious to hold what
they now call soft jobs. the public on
its toes to see the games and spend
real money for the privilege. base
ball cannot help but have a big sea-
son in this yean 1913.
THE pennant race in both leagues
will be very close. but it looks as if
three clubs on each circuit will bat
series coin. Chicago. New York and
Pittsburgh are favorites in the Ma
tional and Boston, Cleveland and New
York look best in the American. There
anything is likely to happen.
A. L. Race Sure to Be Close.
M, ~. Ac,ar;o,r yo.