Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-22
MAJOR LEAGUES
!. HAVE PREPARED
!. FOR new PERIOD
Recently Acquired Players
and Conditions Make for Rad
icaI Changes in Conducting
Big Circuits in Evidence.

| sVNs Su0stSSo W Sv'NNVI'S
Big Circuits in Evidence.
j New York, April 2l.-The CON-
ing week will usher In another base
ball season under conditions which
| the Ipajcr league magnatee, players
and fans hope and expect will be
more fruitful than those of the past
few years With the blight of war
lifted from the national sport it is
TIE belief in all sections that the
game will rebound to the heights of
popularity winch it enjoyed previous
to the devastating sweep of world
wide hostilities.
| League officials and club owners.
with this idea in mind, have devoted
the past few months to preparing
for new period IN base ball and
their handiwork is evident in many
directions. Radical changes were
made in methods and system of con-
Quoting the big leagues at the annual
meetings of. the magnates. lndi-
vidual c!sb owners, have labored to
improve the strength of their forces
land through the team managers
have purchased or traded players in
order to round out formidable COM
binations.
Both Leagues Stronger.
How well they have builded only
time can demonstrate, but viewed
from the standpoint of the present
it would appear as though both the
National and American circuits
were stronger and better balanced
than has been the case in recent sea-
sons. Before the pennant races are
well under way it is expected that
the last of the diamond stars now
serving with the forces either at
LONE or abroad. will have DOTTED
tie KHAKI for base ball flannel Many
will reappear- upon the field with
glamor heretofore lacking and
the fans welcome will be back
ed by sentiment containing some,
thing more than the admiration due
the player for his playing ability
alone.
Mingled with faces of returning
veteran; who have won honors on
the battlefelds of Europe, as we'll
a. on the diamond, will be seen
those of new corners bringing
the speed. agility and zest of youth
to the national game. From the
training camps of the southland
come reports of the sparkling play
of several ,recruits-who promise to
quickly establish themselves in the
hearts of the fans as result of their
unusual skill with bat and ball.
| 1t is this constantly changing pic
ture of personnel. playing ability
and combat. tempered with the SEN
t.ment and traditions of base ball.
that has established the sport so
firmly throughout the nation. Old
stars may fade; youthful phenom-
enons leap to the zenith in their
places. and club owners come and
go with little apparent effect upon
the popularity of the game. For
many years base ball has held its
own through prosperous and de-
pressing seasons because it is base
ball ard Americas game Tradi-
ton had welded the sport into an
integral part of the nations life.
Eastern Clubs Lead.
Chicago leads in the number of
championships won as the teams of
that city have accounted for II pen
nants. Boston is second with nine
and New York third with eight. Of
the 81 pennants won by cities now
represented in the league eastern
clubs have captured p and western
teams Is.
| This year the clubs face a shorter
season and a pennant race of l40
games in place of the usual 154.
When the teams take the field on
Wednesday with Chicago at St.
Louis, Cleveland at Detroit, Phila-
delphia at Washington and Boston
at New York on the American
league circuit and Brooklyn at Bos-
ton; New York at Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh at Chicago and St. Louis
at Cincinnati in the National league,
the 1919 season will be about
week later in starting than has been
the case in past Yeas.
What effect, if any, this will have
upon the pennant races is uncertain
at this time. Managers and mag
mates hope for settled weather and
expect that if normal temperature
onditions prevail the teams will be
able to play fast ball from the start.
Close struggles with the lead shift
ing frequently should make the
base ball season of 1919 one of the
brightest periods i'll the annals of
| the game.
Where Opening Games Will Be
Played Wednesday, April %.
| National League
| At Boston-Brooklyn against Boston.
At Philadelphia-New York at Phila-
| dephia.
| At chicago-Pittsburgh against Chi
cago.
| At Cincinnati-st Louis against Gin
! cinrati.
| American League.
| At st. Lous--Chicago against st. Louis.
| At Detroit-Cleveland against Detroit.
| At Washington-Philadelp against
4 " ashington.
At New York--Boston against New
| York
Cnok and Chef Tall