Evening star., 1936-04-14
Baseball
Continued from First Page.)

seen the Nationals lose ball game.
The President will have with him
in his box his eldest son James, the
latter's wife and his second son Elliott,
Secretary Marvin H. Mcintyre, DR..
Ross T. McIntire, White House phySi-
clan, and Capt. Wilson Brown and
Col. Edwin Watson, chief naval and
military aides, respectively.
In 1917, as Assistant Secretary Of.
the Navy, Roosevelt assisted in the
f1ag-raising ceremonies on opening day
and the Washington club won. In 1888
he attended one game of the world
series with the Giants and that was
the only contest which was won by
the Nationals. In 1884 he threw out
the first ball, but left before the game
was over. thereby missing defeat by
the Washington team. Last year,
again tossing out the first ball, Roose-
velt witnessed a victory.
Woodrow Wilson threw out the most
first-balls for the Nationals. Wilson,
succeeding Taft, did the inaugurating
for eight years and ranked along with
Warren G. Harding as the most rabid
of the presidential base ball fans. Even
after he suffered a stroke of paralysis
and was unable to walk, Wilson used
to drive to Griffith Stadium and watch
games from his car along the right
field line. Griffith always stationed
a utility catcher on the bumper of
Wilson's car to ward off foul balls
that threatened to crash through the
windshield
Score Card Is Souvenir.
Harding, who succeeded Wilson as
the first fan of the land, was noted
for his habit of betting with men,
bers of his party on the game, the
score and even the fortunes of indi-
vidual players in the openers. After
the 1921 opener Ban Johnson, former
American League president, asked
Harding for his score card On it was
Herbert Hoover then was Secretary of
Commerce.
Vice President John Nance Garner,
probably wearing his cowboy hat, will
assist in the flag-raising today. This
ceremony will take place promptly at
2:45. or as soon as the President ar
riveS and is seated, along with men,
bers of his party, in the presidential
box near the Washington dugout. Ac-
companied by President Griffith and
the Washington and Yankee squads,
Garner will parade to the fiagpole in
centerfield and give few tugs on the
rope that will send up the Stars and
Stripes and leave only Roosevelt's toss
as the remaining portion of the cere-
mony.
The gates of Griffith Stadium were
thrown open at IL O'Clock this
enabling the bleacnerites to
grab the best seats on f1rSt-come-
flrst-Served basis. At noon the early
arrivals were entertained by Gold
mans Band, which was to hold forth
until 2:30, when the Army Band ar
riveS. Fifteen minutes later the snub-
nosed limousine bearing the White
House seal is due to arrive and signal
the time for the fag-raising. At 2:55
the President is scheduled to receive
a shiny, white ball from Manager
Bucky Harris and, to the accompani-
ment of camera clicks and cheers from
the crowd, throw the ball in the gen.
eral direction of the umpire in chief.
Advance Sale Heavy.
Although club officials expected
crowd by game time, there
we're few fans waiting in line early
his morning. The advance ticket |
sale had been heavy, and officials said
only few had waited for the last
minute chance to secure admission.
The annual honor of being first in |
line, however, went to A. B. Chapelle,
2804 Charming street northeast. He
got to the park at 6 o'clock and then |
waited patiently for somebody to come |
who could sell him ticket.
Washington's opening game has no |
little long range drawing power, at |
least so far as E. K. Brill of Cincin-
natl, Ohio, is concerned Brill sell |
dom misses the base ball inaugural
here and has long hoped to be the
first man in the park. He made a
valiant effort today, but when he got |
to the Georgia avenue stadium shortly |
before $50 am. he found Chappelle |
and r. A. Oden ahead of him.
Many Women Fans.
The opening game drew its usual |
large percentage of woman fans, Mrs. |
Clarence Zimmerman, 3O1 Seaton |
place northeast, being the first of the |
feminine fans to get her ticket today. |
Shortly after 10 am. a crew of |
workmen began putting the final
touches on the diamond. The bases
were placed and carefully measured,
and one overalled employe ran out
into centerfield to remove the first
scrap of paper blown on the playing
ground.
The ushers also provided some
hing OF an innovation this year. In
stead of their usual conservative uni
'orms, they appeared this morning in
ky blue suits and brilliant red caps.
Team Young and Speedy.
Griffith and Harris viii send onto
he field a team averaging only 27
'ears Of age and possessing more
peed than any Capital team in his
ory. In left field. where the veteran
5einie Manush has cavorted for the