The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-03
AMERICANS OPEN BASEBALL SEASON WITH COLORED ALrSTAR TEAM "BIG CHIEF MEYERS WILL MANAGE CAMPAIGN FOR NEW HAVEN MRR
Manager Grimes Selects His Best Men For First Exhibition Game of year at Newfeld Park To-
 morrow Afternoon Lennon Will Twirl.

Hoping that the weather mans prediction that tomorrow will be an ideal spring day, Manager Grimes to- day was putting his Americans through a grueIling workout in pre- paratiOn for the opening game of the local season at Newfield park with the Philadelphia Red Caps, a fast and highly touted colored combina- ton of se1ni-pros, who were suppos- ed to have played here on Good Fri day
 The locals have not had plenty of time in which to train, but despite this fact Manager Grimes today anti cipated q hot time for the colored folks from the Quakertown The Americans are an optimistic lot any way and they held no fear for the visitors, although advance reports re- ceived here today indicate that the team is one made up of a lot of classy players all of whom could cas- fly make good in fast professional company. but their color however, preveits them from playing anything but semi-pro ball.
 In the southern section where
 the team is better known the
 combination is considered a
 mighty strong one. Last season
 the local fell down to defeat at
 the hands of this team and to-
 morrow they will be out firmly
 determined to capitivate the
 game. But this is a. fact with
 which "dem dere colored folks
 am mighty aware of and they
 don't intend to be caught sleep
 ing.
 From Philadelphia yesterday came out word to the effect that the Red Caps had held several workouts this week and would be in the finest phy- sicaI condition. The manager has decided definitely on his lineup, which on paper looks as strong as the one that Manager Grimes has ar ranged for the locals.
 Fuller, Earle and Forbes constitute a. slugging aggregation that is mighty hard to beat. These boys have a wonderful eye and last season came through with a batting average con siderably over 300 and when the fact is considered that they bucked up against some of the best semi pro pitchers in the country the feat bobs up as an extraordinarily good one.
 Wade will do the twirling for the Red Caps and from what we learned
 
 of benders each class of which he knows well how to put over. He has twirled the PhiladeIphians to many victories and the Quakers will rest much of their hope for a win tomor- row on r. 9 shoulders of this indus trious sp. cdster. Fuller who will do the receiving, also comes highly re- commended.
 Manager Grimes spent consid-
 erable time yesterday sizing up
 his men for the game and finally
 issued his lineup. Chances are,
 however, that practically every
 man in a Bridgeport uniform who
 happens to be on the grounds tomorrow will get the chance to
 take part in the game. The To-
 calls have not had much time in
 winch to work themselves into
 any kind of condition because of
 the poor weather, but Grimes be- Iieves them capable enough of
 showing the colored men a thing
 or two about baseball they don't
 know.
 Netting will be lead off man and incidentally will spend his time in left field. Baker who is to be stationed at second base, will follow with Bill Tai, shortstop. third, and Manager Grimes, first base, will be cleanup man, folloW-d by Martin, who when on the field will be found in center section of the secondary. defence Kelly, third baseman, is No. man with Loan, catching, eighth. Town send is down to start the game on the mound. but chances are than Len non will relieve him in the fourth or fifth inning. Other hurIers with the Bridgeport team also may be given a. chance to demonstrate their wares Skiff will probably be given a chance to work behind the bat after the fourth inning.
 The signing of Chief Meyers as ! JaAzaszar of the New HazAn MI1rlins