Evening star., 1928-04-09
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

Tomorrow afternoon at o'clock the
bell, The Nationals will hustle TO their
positions afield, the Red SoX of Boston
will launch their attack and the 1928
base ball championship campaign 3f the
American League officially will be on.
The six other clubs of the circuit will
not swing into action until Wednesday,
but the big race really will start at
Clark Griffith Stadium Immediately
after Calvin Coolidge, President OF the
United States. heaveS brand new
horSehide-covered sphere TO Clarence
Owens, slated to be umpire-in-chtef of
the inaugural engagement.
Much ceremony will precede the
actual beginning of hoStiliueS, though
washington must have its formalltieS
The Army Band will arrive at the ball
yard at 2:4S O'Clock and for 10 minutes
will provide a concert before heading
q procession of dignitsrieS and two ball
clubs to deep center field, where the
colorS will be lofte6,
IJnon the arrival Of President Coolidge
in the Srandstand the band will play
"The Star Spangled Banner" then the
parade to the flag staff will get under
way. Marching at the head of the clubs
with President Griffith will be President
Ernest Barnard, new executive OF the
American League. and William P. Mac
Crscken. ir., assistant secretary Of Com
merce in charge of aviation. Secre-
tary MacCracken will hoist the flag. the
procession will return from the outf1elo
and a few minutes later the big busi-
ness at hand viii start,
Gates Open at Noon.
The gates of the park will be thrown
cpen promptly at noon and thousands
of ticket holders are expected to get
into the stands long before the starting
time for the inaugural ceremonial ar
rives. To enhance the liveliness of
the occasion Goldman's Band will be
present and will offer musical pro-
gram from IL O'Clock until is min
utes before game time.
While advance sales have been heavy,
there still were some 5000 reserved seats
available this morning for the opening
encounter However, most OF these
we're likely 10 be disposed of today. The
park management has completed ar
rangements for the handling of a throng
Of fans. and the Police Department has
planned for the control of trafiic In the
vicinity of Clark Griffith Stadium from
noon until after the contest. This sea-
son there viii be no parking of auto
mobiles within the BAH grounds. which
viii prevent congestion at exits that
proved annoying 10 the crowds leaving
games In other years.
All washington needs for a brilliant
opening tomorrow Is good weather. The
oficial forecaSter predicts increasing
cloudiness and moderate to fresh north
west winds for the day. but makes no
mention Of rain. Should it be neces-
sary TO postpone the game. though. the
ofnciai opening Of the season will occur
here on April 20, when the Red Sox
again viii be guests of the Nationals.
and not next Sunday, when the same
clubs are scheduled TO play here.
Brown Sold to Memphis.
The Nationals win start the season
with only 26 players on their roster,
Just one more than the maximum they
viii be allowed to carry after June IS.
The squad was reduced to this number
yesterday. when Lloyd Brown, south
paw siabman, was sold outright to the
Memphis club OF the Southern Associa-
tim. from which he was purchased last
year, Browns recoFd with the Chicks
In 1927 was impressive. but In his trial
with the Nationals this Spring his ef-
(. s we're marred BY wildness He viii
leave for Memphis as soon as al the
major clubs have waived on him
us afternoon. the Nationals are do
ing their final tuning up for the cam
paign in 3 game with the Orioles of
the international League at Baltimore
Ths contest IL being held in the huge
Venable Stadium Manager Harris ex-
pected TO send 10 the slab for few In
nings Irving Hadley. leading pitcher Of
the club last year, but who has been idle
TO q great extent since he was stricken
with appendicitis during the early days
OF the Tampa training camp this Spring
II Hadley withGtands the test success
fully. h" conditioning viii be hurried
that he might resume his task as a
regular within week or two.
This final grooming Of the club is
not likely 10 be as grueling as was
the scrap with the Giants here yestAg-
day. Then the Nationals staged a
S-run rally in the ninth inning 20 knot
the score, only 10 be beaten. 8 70 8, In
the fourteenth inning. The contest
ended the annual Spring exhibition