Evening star., 1933-04-12
RAIN THREATENING
4 OF 5 |NAUGURALS
Washington, New York, Bos-
ton and Philadelphia
on Doubtful List.
BY HERBERT w. BARKER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Associated Press Sports Writer.
T NTO the forefront of the sports
picture bounced major league
base ball today, ready to COM
bat the tide of depression with
a flood of base hits and the
tightest pennant fights in years.
The annual opening day gamble with
the weather man, in the overnight FORE
casts, loomed as victory on points for
base ball. Rain was threatened in
Washington, Philadelphia, Boston and
New York, but the other four cities
where inaugurals were scheduled-De-
troit, st. Louis, Chicago and Cincin-
nati-anticipated reasonably clear, II
ccolish, weather, so, no worse than q
draw was in prospect.
With the eight-game program intact,
an aggregate attendance in the neigh-
borhood of 200, 600 was in prospect. The
largest throngs, 10000 apiece. were in
dicated at New York, where the Yank-
ees open their bid for another Ameri-
can League pennant against the reor-
ganiZed Boston Red Sox, and at Chi
cago, where the Chicago Cubs, National
League champions, entertained the st.
Louis Cardinals. For the others, crowds
of from $4,000 to $4,000 were expected.
IN keeping with the times major
i league magnates have instituted the
most rigid economies, but accom-
panied these with q series Of wholesale
player trades that should arouse new
interest in the game and create bet
ter balance in both circuits.
The National League has had more
than its share of close championship
yor iy, I,trff he
paign promises to top them all. Five
clubs, the Cubs, Cardinals, Pittsburgh
Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers and Phillies,
all look strong enough to win the nag,
provided the breaks" come their way,
with the New York Giants not tar
behind If the pitching comes through.
The Boston Braves and Cincinnati Reds
have added strength. but apparently not
in copious enough quantities.
The world champion Yankees head
the American League field. but antici-
pate much harder battle than year
ago. washington and the Athletics
seem destined to be the chief Yankee
annoyers, with Cleveland, Detroit and
the Chicago White Sox in the next
group and the st. Louis Browns and
Red Sox bringing I'D the rear.
Babe Ruth. sore throat and all, was
ready to take his usual post in right
| to all the doubling Thomases" that
he's far from through, but injuries were
to keep a number of famous veterans.
| including Kiki Cuyier of the Cubs,
Travis Jackson of the Giants and Rcg-
| ers Hornsby of the Cardinals, out Of the
opening day line-ups.
DEER was to be sold in the parks at
ID New York. st. Louis, Cincinnati
oud C1,iroUO ,uorI1H o1Sr ho va fSoaf1
available at Boston except for the fact
that license was not obtained in time.
The opening National League pairings
brought prospects at Chicago of q great
pitching duel between two young right
handlers, Lon Warneke of the Cubs and
Jerome Dizzy Dean of the Cardinals.
The Cubs faced the opener with Cuyler
out. but another outfield ace, Floyd
(Babe) Herman, had recovered so
quickly from twisted ankle that he
was inserted in the lineup. A last
minute batting order shake-up sent
Herman into the third slot, with old
Riggs Stephenson in the cleanup posi-
tionI
The Pirates, a speedy outfit greatly
strengthened by the addition of Freddy
Lindstrom to the outfield, planned to
send young Bill Swift to the firing line
against the Reds, who were to counter
with 81 johnson.
william Watson Clark, clever Brook
lyn southpaw, hoped to stop the Phillies'
great slugging cast, with Austin Moore
or Flint Rhem opposing him. President
Heydler was to be guest of honor at this
game. IL
The Giants, with four newcomers
Hank Lieber, George Davis, Gus Man.
cuso and Blondy Ryan-in the lineup,
picked Freddy Fitzsimmons to oppose
BostonS Huck Belts.
In the American League the feature
pairing pitted the Senators against the
Philadelphia Athletics at Washington,
weather permitting, with President
Continued ON Second Page.)