The Washington times., 1922-04-12
Monster Crowd Cheers as
Harding losses Pellet That
Starts Game.

=.
Before an immense crowd Presi-
Dent Harding started the 1922
baseball season at Ausrisan
! LsaRpe Park thiP afternoon by
tossing cut tho first ball which
begsn the game between the
Yanks and Criffmen.
To the click Of cameras and
amid the cheers of the large
throng the President uneorked a
fast straight bail which the um-
pire caught niftily and toosed to
Mogridge. The game was on.
Harding Enjoys Play.
The President. who seemed TO be
having as much fun out OF the game
as the smallest kid In the grand
stand. occupied the Presidential box.
Accompanying the President were
Mrs. Harding Secretary OF State
Hughes. Secretary Of War Weeks.
Secretary OF Commerce Hoover.
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Dawes, A. ID.
Lasker, OF the Shipping Board;
George O'Neil, and Mr.. Hibbard.
Babe Ruth. suspended star OF the
Yankees, arrived shortly after ESQ
O'Clock, occupying box on the third
base side OF the park. When II be-
came generally known that the
migh.v Bimbo had arrived. all eyes
turned on the figure in civilian
clothes, and cheers went up from
various parts OF the stands.
A battery OF cameramen moved
toward Ruth's box. entirely sur.
rounding him while they photo
graphed him.
The practice period Of the Ma
tionals was replete with Incidents OF
good batting and fielding.
Walter johnson, veteran pitcher
of the home team, lined out several
hits to center field In fungo prac.
tice, and Courtney won loud acclaim
by knocking the ball over the right
field fence, narrowly escaping q
throng OF colored fans on a nearby
rooftop.
An hour before the game began
all reserve seats In the grandstand
had been taken. Long before
O'Clock the pavilion was packed. A
score OF detectives from police head.
quarters stroIled among the crowd
70 forestall the operations Of pick
pockets.
fishers in the grandstanJ were
conspicuous in brilliant red caps.
Vendors of soft drinks and confec.
tions furnished anothar note Of color.
Women appeared in great number
! In the stand and on ths a Eli.
TUorIr Ce.fffffk raru a IN fha Ground 4
this morning inspecting the grand.
stand, the diamond. and the circus
seats arranged in the outfield.
Walter Johnson and Goose" Cos.
lin also appeared and were followed
/ in their inspection OF the home
grounds by swarms of admirins
youngsters.
IN great number OF boys OF
school age at the park indicated a
general exodus from Washington's
schools was in progress. The crowd
which took seats In the pavilion
glanced anxiously from time to time
at a partly clouded sky. The work.
ers at the field were busy through.
out the morning chailxing the side.
lines, arranging the backstops, and
putting the field into condition gen
orally.
Captain Jordan led an expedition
of his trained crew Of peanut and
T, pop venders through the stand "a
make them acquainted with their
field OF action. A rushing business
was done In the pavilion among
those who had not come prepared
for long and hungry walt.
Edward n. Eynon. jr.. secretary OF
the Washington Club, was 30 over
whelmed by business IN his office
that he directed his secretary only
TO call him 20 the telephone II ths
White House called.
The lines at the gate became res
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