New Britain herald., 1928-04-17

EASTERN LEAGUE l OPENS TOMORROW
Eight Teams to Square Of as
 Umps Cry "Play Ball"

New Haven, April 17 P-Four umpires will cry Play Ba-a -all' in four different cities tomorrow after- noon and eight Eastern league teams will be off on the first leg of the 1928 pennant race within a few moments thereafter. There are no second division teams in the league this year-the managers say so. How eight teams can crowd into four first division places is prob lem 10 which there does not seem to be any answer but with every manager confident that his team is a potential first division placer. the fans are at least assured of a good brand Of baseball if not an answer to the problem.
 The opening game will find Pitts field at Waterbury. Springfield at Providence. Bridgeport at Hartford. and New Haven at Albany.
 And here is how the eight teams in the league shape us as the season. opens:
 Albany may enter the race for the Eastern league pennant with the same team minus one man, which started the season last year. In the place of Howard Burkett, shortstop. it is expected that Lex Gillespie will be used. Manager Bill McCorry be- lieves that the Hawks will have stronger team. provided Gillespie comes up to expectations. than last years pennant winning team was.
 Tank Yordy. left fielder, and Billy Gleason. second baseman, who did not join the team until just before the opening game last year. both reported early for practice this sea- son and the club will benefit by their improvement.
 PittsGcld Team
 Pittsfield enters the Eastern league season with great prospects. Some shifts may be made. but Man. ager John Collins looks for a great season.
 In the outfleld are Ed O'Conncr. who came from the Lynn team, and Charley Small and George Loepp of the Red Sox. Gene Sheridan is at third, Breslin of Columbia university at shortstop. Frank Parkinson at second and Ted Baldwin at first. Brick Wilder and Ed Connolly. who came from the Red SoX under op- l ton, will do the catching.
 On the pitching staff are Johnny Enzmann. Joe Cascarella. Bill Nehl and Art Reynolds, who were with yier. Pat Shea, kenney, Gaylord Turner. Frank Bushcy and Traynor, who came from the Boston Ameri- cans. Traynor is the only portside pitcher in the lot.
 Bridgeport Team
 Bridgeport will start the season | with but five veterans of the 1927 campaign. Emmerich and Sperber have been retained for the outtield, while Guy Lacey will again guard second base and Sedgewlck and Kahn will occupy the pitching box.
 Al McCurdy has been secured from the Coast league for first base by Manager Whitman. and Harry Whitehousc from Toronto will take care of the short field. Abe Herman will be at third. Johnny Jones in tn, field, and McRae and Gerst bchinG the plate. On the pitching staff arc Gran O'Neal, Hal Deviney. Hanl Thormahlen, Walter Stowers, Joh'
 August and Al Lenardi. Fred Par
 tridge and Al Ferguson will stay oI as utility inhelders
 Providence Weak
 Providence has three of las years pitchers. Touchstone. Ekclsol and Douglas. to start the seasoI
 with, but has two gaps 10 be filled in the intield, shortstop and secon'
 base. Manager Bader has made of
 fers to q dozen teams but 1t appear
 at second and Allen, rookie, Il !, short Wright from the Sally leagu
 Is at first for the seasons opening and Peploski at third. In the outfiel' are Harris. Clark, Munroc. McManu ] and. Barron. Bill Cronin will be tn first string catcher. Joe Spear an Dunlap of the New England leagu , have berths on the pitching staff
 and two other huriers are eXpecte
 from tho Braves.
 , Waterbury Prospects , Waterbury with new owners. nc' officials. and new players. is regard D ed as the dark horse of the East , ern league as the season opens. Man 1, agcr pick" Rudolph. who used | [ hurl the apple for the Bosto Braves. had only a few weeks to 6. ! his combination together but expect i by mid season to have a first div sion aggregation.
 . The pitching staff is built aroun
 Egbert Johnson. only holdover ( the 1927 pitching corps. Three Jeff ? handed recruits, Frank Tanse. . Glggles" Mclaughlin and Ed Noi . ton, will probably be retalne , through the season. and with Jil
 Boswell from Baltimore. Han
 Eoney who was discovered at in
 University of Florida by John Nc z Graw, Hap" Carnes, Pcllinger an . Newton. they will try to win ba D games for Waterbury.
 Il Capt. Tommy Mccarthy an "Dutch" Mollcr will do the catchin 2 for the Brasscos. In the inheld wi c be Fritz Brlnor of Baltimore = third, Huartc of the New EnGlan 2 league at short, and Bill Cronln [, Boston college at second. Ed Conrt l and schultz arc both battling for Il ' first Sach.
 n Frank Brewer. Sid Graves ana '