Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-14
BIG LEACUERS
IN INITIAL CLASHES
OF SEASON TODAY

Eight imma culate baseball battle
fields are ready for war and sixteen
well-conditioned armies await the
zero hour tomorrow.
Americas national game. buried
under football gridirons and board
tracks during the winter months,
bursts forth once again in all its
glory.
West meets west and east meets
east in the jousts tomorrow. the first
of a warfare which will endure for
six months. The ranks in the early
days will be depleted by injuries and
illness, but will come to full strength
when the sun is warmest.
AS this seasonal conflict gets under
way, the eyes of quarter million
enthusiasts will be upon the foes.
The New York Yankees stadium
baseballs greatest structure, expect
ed to receive the largest throng, for
there Washington. the world cham
pions of 1924-led by the indomita-
BILE. Stanley Harris-will do battle
with the Yankees for the three pre-
lceding years champions of the AM
lerican League, and of the worlI In
1928
7 Meanwhile, the National League
Champions. the Giants, encounter the
Braves of Boston in Allston. The
Opening day games are as follows:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
| Washington at New York
| Chicago at Detroit.
| Cleveland at ST. Louis.
Boston at Philadelphia.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
New York at Boston.
Pittsburgh at Chicago.
| Philadelphia at Brooklyn.
| st. Louis at Cincinnati
| For the second time in three sea-
sons the campaign will be started
without the greatest of home run
hitters Babe Ruth, in the Lineup Of
the Yankees. Two years ago Ruth
was disciplined by Commissioner X.
NJ. Lands for participating in barn
storming excursions after the regular
season. He appeared after several
weeks of the schedule had elapsed.
Today, the Yankee outfielder lies on
a hospital cot suffering the after-ef-
fects of influenza.
Tyrus Raymond Cobb, for nine
years the American Leagues lead
ing batter, is also victim of illness,
while the inimitable Walter Grab
blD Maranville, formerly of the
Braves and Pirates. will be unable to
take this position with the Chicago
Cubs, having suffered broken leg
in training. Denver Griggsby of the
Cubs has a broken collarbone, Joe
Hauser, first baseman of the Athlet-
les, has a broken knee cap, Fred
Heimach of the Athletics has a
isprained right shoulder and numer-
Gus smaller injuries will handicap
the clubs at the start.
Another face that has been fam
liar to baseball followers for many
years will be missing-that of Stuffy
McInnis, first haSeman with the old
Athletics brilliant infield and a play
er who went through an entire sea-
son with only one error. McInnis
has been released Internationally by
the Boston Braves for his refusal to
accept a cut in salary and report to
the training camp.
| But there will be new figures Jim
Poole, slugger of the Pacific Coast
League, has come from Portland to
take the manned Hauser's place with
the Mackmen, and Gordon Coch-
rane, Boston University graduate.
will be catching for the Athletics.
Dick Cox may be in the Brooklyn
outfield, Frank Walker in the Giants
Garden. and Earl Coombs. injured a
year ago, will be alongside Bob Meu-
sci in the Yankees outer defense.
Inc Ph1llleS, IN an endeavor to
step out of the second division, have
added several minor league stars
among whom is Chicken" Hawks,
once a substitute first baseman for
the Yankees. Brooklyn has purchas-
ed a clever American Association
left handler in Jess Petty. The Cubs,
attempting to fill the shoes of Mar
awhile, have obtained Kim McCau-
LEY. of Los Angeles.
Close followers of the game appear
to agree in the prediction that the
Yankees, Senators and Tigers will
fight for the American League pen
nant, with the possibility that George
Sisler will bring fire to a shoulder
| ing st. Louis club.
! In the National League the Giants,
Pirates and Dodgers with again
hreat from st. Louis. are expected to
race neck and neck down the stretch.