Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-14
HARDING
At B. B. OPENING
National Pastime Gets Great
Start for 1921, With Only
One Postponement
Lands SEES CUBS PLAY

The 1927 baseball season got away to
n good start yesterday. every game COM
ing off according to schedule with the
exception Of the Tigers. White Sox con-
tiict ut Detroit. which was postponed
by rain.
Thousands VINO had hoped to sec Ty
Cobb make his managerial debut had
| found seats in the park hours before
game time. and when the postponcment
was announced less than an hour before
the teams were to take the field, rec.
ord attendance was in prospect.
Mr.. Harding There
The President and Mrs. Harding
/ Vice President and Mrs. Coolidge, Gen
eral Pershing. members Of the cabinet
and Congress, the diplomatic corps and
President Il. B. Johnson. Of the Amer.
lean League. were in the record break
ing crowd which attended the opening
game in Washington. Boston won
g to }, by punching hits on three Wash
instnn pitchers.
President Harding received a demon
Strntipn upon his entry into his box near
the home plate. He tossed out the first
ball and kept his own score on u card
which he later presented 20 President
Johnson.
Before tho game General Pershing
raised the American flag at the park.
receiving Tremendous ovation when
he appeared on the field to march to tho
flagpolc in center field with the band
and the players Of both teams
Walter Johnson started in the box for
Washington and for the first time in
his long career failed to finish an open
ing game. He gave wny after four inn
tnV knI tn,
run lead.
State md city officials attended the
opening game at st. Louis between the
Browns and Cleveland Indians. st.
Louis won A.. Governor Hyde
pitched the first ball to Louis Aide.
chairman of the board Of aldermen.
Mayor Kiel umpircd the toss, calling 1t
bail.
Two wild throws in the third gave
the Browns their frst run and four
punched hits in tue fifth accounted for
the three others.
Smiths home run. followed by three
singles. gave Cleveland its two tallics.
The two Philadelphia clubs performed
about as expected and lost to the rival
New York clubs.
Robins Come Through
Wilbert Robinson's National League
champions from Brooklyn helped the
Braves open the major league baseball
season in the Hub. and they started out
as titleholderS should After being held
next to helpless by Joe Oeschger for
seven innings, the Robins came to life
IN the eighth and scored three runs on
| four hits. In the ninth they added
! two hits with an error by Cruise and
collected two more runs, just enough
to take the game by the score of 8 to 1.
The game marked the debut of Fred
Mitchell as manager in Boston, and all
the usual opening day frills helped to
make the event memorable affair.
Oeschger was In brilliant form up 10
the eighth and his sudden explosion was
a disappointment to the fans who had
been pulling hard for Mitchell TO start
his managerial career with Il victory.
Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh . to 3 be-
fore the largest crowd that ever wit "
messed an opening game in the Reds
home town. The Pirates staged n bat
ting rally in the ninth, but the two runs
scored were not enough to win.
! Grover Cleveland Alexander, former
Philie star. pitched the Chicago Cubs
| to a 5-to-2 victory over the Cardinals
at St. Louis. 1t was the first opening
! game Alexander has been credited with
since he Joined the Cubs.
Lands. who occupied box seat,
said: well. that was mighty good
clean game"
More than 20, 900 persons were pres
ent. despite the chilly air and an over
| cast sky, the crowd Overfowed into
the outfield.
Numerous gifts of flowers and low
! ing cup were presented to the new man e
ager, Johnny Evers,