The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-14
TIGERS AND CUBS 8 TO 5 CHOICE TO WIN AGAIN
Star Rockies to Play Im= pOrtant Roles in l54
 Games Starting Today
By GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, April 14-(UP)-Presi- dent Roosevelt made his first cam paign speech last night, there was an election today in Illinois and Me- braSka, and the League of Nations may decide for peace or war in Eu- rope Thursday, but true Americans had no eyes for such goings-on to- day.
 For this afteronon the umpire yells Play ball." the lowly peanut and the hot dog come back into their own, bands play and pennants whip in cold breezes, and the 16 major league baseball clubs begin the long, 154-game quest of the pot of gold at the end of the world series rainbow.
 Some minor leagues, including the class A American association and the Pacific coast league, began their seasons last week, but the first day of play in the American and Ma tional league is to the nation at large the opening day."
 Fans on Hand
 Nearly 190,000 persons, will attend the opening day battles, ranging from the 10000 who will see the New York Giants play the Brooklyn Dod- gers at the Polo Grounds, to the $500 who will attend the Boston Possibilities game at Philadelphia.
 Washington, where the Yankees
 meet the Senators, will occupy the ceremonial highspot, with President Roosevelt tossing out the first ball, a custom started during President Taft's regime.
 Baseball, which has been making A steady comeback since its slump during the days of the depression, is pointing for its most successful season financially since 1880. Every club except the woebegone Phila- delphia Athletics expects to show black ink on its ledger at the end of the season and venerable Connie Mack, who still can master enthu- siasm at 72, says: Even we may fool some of the wise boys"
 The two penannt races are packed with impending drama. The Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers are betting favorites at 8-5 to repeat. The Ma tional league managers predict 8 tense two-club race between the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals for the National league dag. The American league managers pick the Tigers to make it three in row but admit | shat the race is likely to be a thrill ing four-club affair, the best the junior circuit has enjoyed in 10 gears. One of the most intriguing ques- Hons will be: Gan & pennant be bought" or "Where will the Red Sox Anish?" Tom Yawkey has invested 2,O00, GOO in ball players in an effort | 10 bring the American league flag 10 Boston. His latest outlay was e400, 900 to Connie Mack for four of | his stars. 4
 On the Job
 The National league, presided over by energetic Ford Prick, former sports writer, continues to show the way in trying to give the customer . run for his money. Prick has banned social get-togethers among rival players on the field. One um- pire will report to the field early | each day, and keep tabs on players who fraternize with rivals. Prick | will fine them $10 for each viola tion.
 Flaming youth will continue to Nominate the National league this season because of the tremendous success last season of its two young est clubs, the Chicago Cubs, who put on 21-game winning streak to win the pennant, and the Cincinnati Reds, who rose to sixth place after i've years in the cellar.
 The never ending cycle of vet erans passing out of the picture and rockies replacing them will go on. Most prominent missing stars are Babe Ruth, absent for the first time in 21 years, Dazzy Vance, once the speediest pitcher in baseball, and Rabbit Maranville, the little pepper pot who is now managing a minor league club.
 Among the highly touted rockies are Joe Dimaggio, $50,0O0 coast 1eaguer who some say has the most perfect batting style since shoeless Joe Jackson; Buddy Lewis, Wash ington's classy third baseman; Lee Stine, Cincinnati pitcher; Ben Geraghty, Brookolyn shortstop who is fresh of the Villanova college campus; Leo Norris, Phillies' short- stop: and Roxie Lawson, Tigers pitcher.