Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-14
By EDDIE ASH.


What's that we hear?
Surely it isn't potatoes taking sudder
drop or the switchmen rushing back C
work.
It's something more important tC
thousands OF Indianapolis citizens today
It'Sthe old electrifying cry Of PLAY
BALLW
With bands playing and people shout
ing the rent gOuger, the pronteer, tht
silk-shiTt magnate and the political
Candidates were thrust aside like 50
much chaff today while baseball enthui,
asts of the city took charge of things and
rent the air with good old diamond
enthusiasm.
THIS OPENING
DAY A THRILLER.
Opening day always carries a thrill
but there WAS more thrill than ever II
the demonstration staged this afternoon
on the occasion Of the indianapolis club :
1920 start in the American association
race.
The Chamber Of Commerce. Rotary
club, Advertising club, Kiwanis club
Knights OF Columbus and other organ
iZations launched boosting drives sew
sraI days ago and when they mo0lllzeG
forces this afternoon there was no end
OF baseball excitement.
First, came the auto parade, startine
at 1 :45, and IL was a REGULAR parade
Headed by mounted police, followed
by state, city and county dignitarles,
members of the Indianapolis and To
ledo clubs and just plain fans, bOtf
organized and unO-ganiZeds the parade
attracted much attention as It passed
over the downtown streets, and its pass
ing was the signal for every one tina
could get away from work TO make
break for Washington park.
GOVERNOR, MAYOR
AND OWNER SMITH.
In the first car IN the parade Wer'
Gov Goodrich, Mayor Jewett and VII
liam c. Smith ST., owner OF the ball elub
Following the car Of honor came
machine carrying the two team managers
Roger Bresnahan Of IOle1O and Jach
Hendricks OF Indianapolis.
Next came machines carrying th'
ball PLAYERS Of the two clubs, and follow
+ ing t4ese were the Rotary club baseball
SelegatiOn and other organizations II
the positions assigned 10 them by Paradt
Manager Egglest0n. Capt. Franklin o.
the police department was parade
marshal.
Aueellaneous cars participated because
all fans were welcome and they took pO
sitions following the organized forces.
The parade formed at Meridian and
Vermont streets at 80 and started NOV
ing at 40. The baseball pageant moved
south on Meridian 10 Ohio, east on Ohl'
TO Pennsylvania, south on PennsylyanIS
to Washington and west on Washington
to the ball park
Soldiers took part IN the parade anC
also attended the game. Fifty regular
from Ft BENJAMIN Harrison participated
about 100 from the Speedway and ais
members Of the local United states army
recruiting force under the direction VI
Col. George Converse.
The soldiers rode IN army trucks
which were httingly decorated. The
entrance Of the Khaki clads into the biz
baseball demonstration was brOugh
about through the efforts Of the h OF {
The bright sunlight Of the morning
-r.fR TwF 1zrf
Of the boosters and they felt sure tina
indianapolis would capture the leagu
trophy offered for the highest opening
day attendance
LEAGUE TROPHY
GOAL OF PANS.
This city always has been the leader
or among the leaders in turning Gu
baseball crowds and with the addet
impetus Of the various city Organiza
MefOns, Washington park fences were liter
ally expected to bulge this Afternoon
with wild fans and fans less wild
Gov. Goodrich and Mayor JeJWet
graced the parade and ball park witt
their presence, and they entered into th'
spirit Of the occasion with keen enjoy
The governor occupied a special boz
at the game and il was in this box tina
the first ball to be used in the opening
game was unWrapped.
After hundreds Of hungry baseball eyes
got peeps at the sphere squad o
feminine fans carried it from the gov
ernor TO the mayor, who then took hi
annual turn on the Washiu gtOn pari
pitching mound and threw the first bal
over cor att the plate.
Then the game was on!
z band that kept things lively in tn
de continued its musical roofing be
e and during the game, and, as re
suit, the huge crowd was kept prOperl!
tuned up throughout the contest.
The playing field was heavy, but tn
athletes were expected to step Lively
nevertheless and the sOggy condition o
the ground was forgotten by both player
and fans under the stress Of the import
anee attached to the opening struggle.
POPULAR ROGER
THE HEN LEADER.
The indianapolis players were tOggeC
In new white uniforms, trimmed II
cardinal, and they made a natty appear
anee on the field.
The Toledo athletes appeared in gTa!
uniforms, and their manager, koge
Bresnahan, always popular here, wa
given welcoming ovation by the fans.
Jack Hendricks sent his best availa bl'
lineup against the invaders, with Ca
Crum doing the pitching and Gossett be
hind the bat.
The grandstand was profusely deco
rated and outside of a heavy field th'
setting was perfect for the grand base
ball opener.
Preceding the game a flag raising was
Jewetk In charge Of the ceremonies
The players. band and officials Of the
two clubs also participated. They were
20 march from the home plate TO center
field, where the flag was to be hOisted.