Evening star., 1933-04-03
.COAST CLUBS OPEN
HOPEFUL CAMPAIGN
Beer, Lower Admission Fees,
Close Race Expected to
Boost Attendance.
BY RUSSELL ]. NEWLAND,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

= AN FRANCISCO, April 3.-With
high hopes for more normal
season and a new ally - beer -
at hand to help increase the
revenue, Pacific Coast League base ball
clubs will celebrate the thirty-first an
nual opening of the circuit tomorrow.
The Sacramento club already has
made plans to sell the 80 beverage at
concession stands. officials of the two
San Francisco teams, Seals and Mis-
sions, and the Oakland Oaks figure on
increased revenues. Seattle, Portland,
Los Angeles and Hollywood are expected
to fall in line
From the strictly base ball side, the
lure for increased patronage will be
lower ticket prices. Last season every
club played to smaller crowds than the
year before Basic prices will be 25
cents for bleachers and 40 cents for
grandstandS.
While night games are losing out in
some sections, other localities will go
in for after-dark playing as strongly as
before. Only one night contest week
will be held at Seals Stadium, home of
the San Francisco and Mission Clubs.
Sacramento plans day games only on
Sunday Seattle and Portland prob
ably, will switch from days to nearly
all nights after May. Oakland will ex-
pertinent bit in the hope Of hitting a
happy medium. Los Angeles and Holly
wood also will cater partly to an "elec-
trio light" trade.
THE early-season size-up promises a
i free-for- all scramble for the cham
pionship with Portland in the de-
Tending role. The 1888 Portland Bea-
vers do not stack up as strongly as the
club which won the pennant. The 1882
tail-end Missions give indications OF
having more formidable representation.
Hollywood's Stars and the Los An
geles Angels loom as the leading con-
tenders Portland, however, cannot be
written out of the competition.
Sacramento, third place club last sea
son, will open minus its leading twirler
of last season, Jimmy DeshOng, sold to
the Yankees Oakland has taken on
experienced help in George Kelly, for
mer New York Giants first sacker and
a 10-year man in the majors, and
Walter Dutch" Ruether, willy south
paw, who rates as one of the smartest
pitchers in the circuit
Seattle has added Morris Badgro
slugging outfielder, formerly with the
st. Louis Browns. The Seals have a
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the players are not overly impressive.
Youngsters make up the Mission club.
DoRTLANp will feel keeniy the loss
/ of Lou Finney, heavy-hitting out
fielder, and Bob johnson, another
capable fly chaser. Both bounced up to
the big leagues.
Hollywood has a veteran lineup,
stronger than the array that put the
team In second place in 1882. Los An
geles appears to be the most improved
team in the loop. Jimmy Reese, for
mer Yankee second sacker, is expected
to add punch. Orv Mohler makes his
debut in organized base ball as short
stop and the former University OF
Southern California athletic star al
ready is attracting attention through
his hitting. With the steadying inf1u-
ence of Reese, Mohler may get under
way without difficulty.
The Angels also recently received
two pitchers from the Chicago Cubs,
Leroy Hermann and Bud Newsom.
Each has the stuff to become win
ner on the Coast, Hermann already
having demonstrated this through his
previous connections with Los Angeles.
Opening day games:
Hollywood at Sacramento; Portland
at San Francisco; Missions at Oakland;
Seattle at Los Angeles.