The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-12

WOCO VI OHoSb0Ai Q OPCAAAAAS 00.
 Some 200, ,0O0 fans headed for the ball park in eight major league cities. A million or more from coast to coast eagerly awaited first returns of runs, hits and errors.
 More Even This Year
 With the balance of power more evenly distributed in the National League and the vincibility of the Philadelphia Athletics shattered by the St Louis Cardinals in the last world series, there is every in- dication that last years two run away races will not be repeated. The Athletics won the 1881 pen nant by 13 l-2 games and will be after their fourth straight pen nant and a new American League record. The Cardinals finished 1S games in front last year and will be after their third consecutive pennant.
 As a prelude to the grand open ing, President Hoover threw out the first ball yesterdaysatW Washing ton, where the Senators defeated the Boston Red Sox, To, in 10 innings.
 There won't be- any crowd to rival last years 10000 gathering at Yankee Stadium, but with fair weather about 120,000 will see the four National League games and about S0,000 the quartet of Ameri- can League contests. Brooklyn will draw the days biggest crowd which may exceed 35,00O.
 With definite indications of a swing back to pitching, speed and inside baseball, the 1882 season may witness further decline in home runs and long distance hit ting.
 Strength Plus Speed
 The New York Yankees, with baseball's two greatest sluggers. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, will continue to exemplify power, but even this team will balance It's power with speed on two dashing rookie infielders, Frank Crosetti and Jack Saltzgaver, and the fleet Benny Chapman.
 The fate of the world champion St Louis Cardinals Is decidedly un- certain as an after math of the bold trading of Charles (Chick) Hafey, National League battling champion, and Burleigh Grimers. one of the teams three best pitch- CTS last year, and the proposal Of other players since the 1881 sea- son.
 { Gabby Street, who has won two pennants in his two years at the helm, is gambling on two rookie pitchers from the Texas League. Dizzy Dean and Tex Carleton. He has converted Jim tRip) Collins from a first baseman into an out fielder to displace Hafey.
 Watch Elm Go
 The New York Giants, with the strongest array John J. McGraw has gathered since 1924, appear to have the strength to battle the Cardinals unless Hughie Critz's uncertain throwing arm takes him off second base or trouble devel- ops in the catching department. Len Koenecke, the S75.000 rookie from Indianapolis, hrs made the Giants outfield. The itching staff of Walker, Hubbell. Fitzsim- mons, Mooney, Mitchell, Luque, and Gibson looks like the leagues best.
 The Cubs, strong in the box and defensively, are handicapped by the temporary loss oI short-stop Woody English, who has broken finger. and lack a hard-hitting out. fielder.
 Up and Coming!
 Cincinnati, which has acquired the greatest number of new play CTS in either league, threatens to desert the cellar and make trouble for all. With Hafey. Babe Her man. Grantham, Gilbert, Lombar- di and Douthit on hand, the Reds have all kinds of possibilities.
 Tn the American League Connie Mack is standing pat on his 1881 lineup expecting Grove. Earnshaw and Walberg to strongarm their way around the league again.
 Out side of the Yankees. Wash ington appears the only other American League team with pen- nant possibilities. The Senators are starting without Joe Cronin. their brilliant shortstop. but have more punch with Carl, Reynolds in the outfield than a year ago.
 IndiS idnals
 Among the inG,v:dual players who will command wide attention are Pepper Martin. the Cardinals World Series hero. starting his sec ond major, league season., Art Shires, back in the majors with the Boston Braves; Rabbit Maranville. beginning his 21st major league campaign with the Boston Braves: Babe Ruth, starting his 18th sea- son and his first alter a salary cut which has his wage to $75,000; Hack Wilson, who is attempting. a comeback with Brooklyn after the dizziest decline in baseball history; and Lefty Grove, who will attempt to lead the American League pitch CTS for the fourth year in row.
 The three new major league managers are George Gibson, back at Pittsburgh; Max Carey at Brooklyn; and Lew Fonseca, Chi cago White Sox, and only player m n a