The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-10
RAIN PLAYS HAVOC
WITH BALL GAMES
Only One Contest Played In 3
Leagues-Big Doings In Lo-
cal Parks Tomorrow.

One Of the cleanest sweeps ever made
nv the weather man was registered yes
tsrday when at one fell swoop he wiped
nit every game scheduled in the Ameri-
on, and International Leagues and three
. AZ tho four games carded in the National
League. The only place that escaped the
rain and cold weather belt was Chicago,
where Ray Fisher of the Cincinnati Reds
won a sensational pitchers battle from
Grover Alexander OF the Cubs in the
lat,ers first game since he was mustered
out Of the army. 1t was the former
Yanks fourth straight victory. He won
the game by a score Of to 0.
The Yankee-Washington game on the
Polo Grounds and the Giant-Dodger tin
IN Ebbets Field were called off early In
the day on account OF wet grounds and
inc!ement weather.
II is interesting to note that the Yam
KEGS and Dodgers are taking advantage
OF the mistake of last Monday, when
the Giants and Brooklyns permitted one
OF the finest baseball days of the spring
10 go to waste. Postponed games could
have been played off on that date Instead
Of saving them for future double head
ers A National League rule prohibit
ing the playing Off Of postponed games
was dug up. but we notice this rule
again has been ,shelved, as the Giants
will play in Brooklyn to-day. tomorrow
and Monday.
The Yankees and Senators also will
play on these three days. Elaborate
ceremonies have been arrangd for at the
Polo Grounds tomorrow to usher in the
first Sunday American League game in
this town under the new law, There
will be a patriotic band concert and
copies OF The Star Spangled Banner"
will be distributed to the spectators,
who will be invited TO sing the national
anthem before the game.
Arrange Elaborate Programme.
Major C. H Clifford. late Of the Eley-
enth Engineers. will toss out the first
ball Two Yankee Coionels-Ruppert
and Huston-:hink 1t is appropriate that
an officer Of this regiment shall take a
prominent part in this game. In 1917
benefit performance was given to the
Eleventh Engineers, then the First Re-
Z serve Engineers. which was the first
Hmsjor league game ever played on Man
haitian Island on Sunday. Griffith, the
Washington manager, has promised to
pitch Walter johnson. his pitching ace,
tomorrow. The New York pitcher "a
likely to be Shawkey.
While Major Clifford will staSt Off the
Yankee Washington game tomorrow,
Al Smith. Jr., will do the same stunt In
Brooklyn. After to-morrow's game in
Flatbush. Al, Jr.. will have to decide
whether 1t is greater honor to be the
son of the Governor of the leading State
IN the union or the lad who tossed out
the ball at game attended by 10000
OF his fathers fellow citizens.
Charley Ebbets, president of the
Brooklyn club. has bestowed this honor
on Young Alfred In honor Of his services
II behalf OF the Sunday baseball bill.
Al, Jr. was chairman of a committee OF
Albany kids who waited on Pa Smith
and asked him TO sign the Sunday base
ball bill IT originally was intended that
Al. Jr,, should do his pegging last Sun
oay' but on second thought Ebbets de-
tided 1t still would be n greater honor
10 have the younSster pitch out the ball
IN the first Sunday game between
Brooklyn and the team representing
Manhattan. the home borough of the
Governor. Young Al has reserved the
right to root for John McGraw.
Eobets is preparing to take care of
tie greatest throng that ever knocked at
hs gates tomorrow. Carpenters yester-
day were busy erecting temporary
stands around the outfeld.
Baseball Warriors Arrive.
Two baseball warriors of local teams
errived in New York yesterday, Walter
smaliwood, the Yankee pitcher. and
Clarence Mitchell. the pitcher outfielder
ot the Brookiyns. Smallwood was a
teFseant In Company A. 310th Artillery.
While Mitchell was in the Eighty-ninth
nit
and other big leaguess. Both men ex-
Iect their discharges within the next
few days.
smallwood was obtained from the
Newark club In the latter part OF the
1871 season and pitched several splen-
oid games for the Yankees. He was
one Of the first players taken in the
draft He -eported for military service
IN September, 1917. Whether Higgins
VIII be able 10 use him with the twenty
one player limit going into effect next
week remains TO be seen.
Mitchell brought back word that Chuck
ward. whom the Dodgers obtained in
Inc Cutshaw-Stensel deal with Pittsburg.
also Is on his way back. He will get in
come time next week.
WIN Mitchell, Allljus and Ward avail
to'e, Wilbert Robinson will have a lot
OF hard thinking to do to decide what
payers to retain after May is. when he.
TOO is obliged to shave down to twenty
one players
his infield problem especially is COM
l'eX Ray Schmandt, a 800 hitter last
year has recovered from his spike
wound and now Is practising around
tn'rd base Ward was considered In
a!spensable 10 Brooklyn's success when
'Ae season opened. but no manager wants
% change combination that Is winning
consistently. Brooklyn Is entitled to its
'eadlhs honors Not only Is the team
Fe'lns great pitching. but its batsmen
are leading the league In clubbing.
brooklyn is hitting 400 as a club.
hcGraw hack From Pittshur~