Evening star., 1927-04-12
GEARS OF CAPITAL
JAM AS BASE BALI.
SEASON STARTS
10000 Quit Work to Fill
Stands as President
Throws First Ball.
ALL FANFARE OF PAST
WILL BE IN EVIDENCE
Weather Man, Two Bands and
District Officials to Aid
in Ceremonies.

The gears of Government and q
private business clashed and strained
this afternoon as the welcomed
monkey wrench, the great American
pastime OF base ball. went hurtling
into the works for the 1927 season.
The main cog Of the Federal ma.
chinery Calvin Coolidge him.
self-could not resist the merry con.
spiracy, engineered by Clark Griffith,
Bucky Harris and his gang. and il
was rumored that as the curtain was
made ready to respond to the magic
words play ball' at $3.50 this after
noon the President engaged in mental
pitching practice preparatory &c
throwing out the first ball.
Emulating the example set by th1
Nations leader. some 10000 other gov
ernmental, business, professional ant
social cogs flew off in a tangeu,
toward the revamped and redecorateC
Griffith Stadium. intent on giving
rousing send-Off to the National Cap
ital's potential pennant claimants il
their opening attack on the Boston
Red SoX.
Glory Of Past Planned.
All of the fanfare of notable open
ing games of the past was on thu
program for the afternoon, from tn,
stirring strains of popular and mar
tial music by two brass bands to tht
annual fOrmality of unfurling tn,
American colors from the peak of tn,
flagstaff in deep center field. Ever
the weather man Joined in the move
ment TO give the team an ideal greet
Ing, and blue skies were the order o
the auspiciOus opening day.
The music started shortly after the
midday hour under the direction oi
Meyer Goldman and served to keeT
the early bleacher and pavilion fan,
in high spirits until game time. Tie
local band was due to give way al
o'clock to the nationally renowned
Army Band. whose resplendently uni
formed personnel viii escort the Dis
trict Commissioners and ball clut
officials to the flag-hoistiug ceremonie,
in the far corner.
Walter johnson Missing.
Only one thing was lacking from
today's program. That thing wa,
Walter Johnson. From time imme
mortal. to use an appropriate phrase
the Big Train from Coffeyville, Kans.
has been an outstanding figure il
Washington's opening contest. He
was there. it is true, today. but not e
draw down a mighty cheer as ht
toed the slab to lead his team onwarc
toward victory. Barney's historic tos
hung limp from a bandagad foot-a
casualty Of the strenuous training
season.
Nevertheless, or rather conse
quently. "Old Walter" heard ono,
again the ovation which always greet
his appearance on any base ball field
and especially so on the HON,
grounds.
In Johnsons place on the rubba,
was slated TO loom the venerable
figure Of Stanley Coveleskie, spit-bal
twirler Of no mean repute. Behint
the dampened glove. shielding tn,
menacing features OF the prineipa
exponent of moist hurting lay thu
hopes of Washington fandom for
signal victory to launch the 1872
campaign.
Bucky's Finger Bandaged.
Just to the rear of the pitchers box
according to last minute forecasts
ager of the Nationals, himself a vic
tim of the preseason base ball battles
With his finger tightly taped to pro
tect the injury recently sustained
genial Mr.. Stanley Harris seemed de
termined to start the game at least
President Griffith announced thai
Bucky had made up his mind to play
and he added that when Bucky
makes up his mind about anything
he usually does it," If the managers
bandaged member complains from tn,
harsh treatment, Stuffy Stewart viii
be called on to play the keystone DO
sition.
Curious as Washington was {,
glimpse again their favorite athletes
not one whit less eager were the fan,
to witness the novelty of the Graz
Eagle of Base Ball" the beloved Tri.
Speaker, in the uniform of the Sena
tors. The gray-haired veteran of tn,
sport, who was obtained by the
Washington club after the Speaker
Cobb-Leonard mix-up of last Winter
will help Washington realize its pen
nant aspirations by holding dowr
Centerheld.
Crowd on Hand Early.
- AoAA oiGCQ CAOWu Ol - early DlfQS
were on hand at the park this morn
ing TO gather what choice wornn
there were in the form of unsold re
served seats. Some 1900 of thes,
seats were available when the sale be
gan. but by noon only a very few
were eft, and these were going over
the ticket counters fast.
The gates were thrown omen a
noon and the sparse gathering arount
the turnstiles rushed in to locate theig
seats, or, in the case of pavilion ant
bleacher customers, to secure a place
OF vantage on the unreserved benches
Base ball would not be base bal
without the inevitable hot dog ant
pop. and the Washington Club
through Assistant Secretary Bllb
Smith, saw to II that the crowds go
all they wanted. Five hundred
pounds Of 'wienies" were imported
for the occasion, ready to be fltteI
into 500 dozen rolls. A large GROVE
Of venders took care of the distribu
ton. President Griffith and Secretary
I'd Eynon surveyed the stadium
noon and pronounced everything II
tipt0p shape for the big set-L,. The
gra ndsta nd glistened with frSsn greer
paint trimmings and the field was a:
smooth as billiard table.
Army Band to Lead.
The formal program was to opel
at o'clock with the marcl
to the field of Capt. Stannardi
Army Band. Lining up In military
- to- e..