Evening star., 1938-04-18

The vanguard Of what promised to
be a near sell-out crowd of more than
10000 filed through the turnstiles at
Griffith Stadium this afternoon, ready
to see the Nations No. fan, Franklin
D. Roosevelt. unloosen his SIS, 900
wing" at PAS pm. and send the
Nationals and Athletics into the OPEN
ing conflict of the 1888 baseball season.
Bustling with the activity of last
minute parations-arranging aisle
seats. adjusting flags that hung from
the grandstands and combing the field
the ball park was expected to be the
most popular place in town by game
time.
Showers, imminent all morning. be-
came reality around noon, but those
in the open stands stuck it out. re-
fuSing to run the tsk Of losing choice
seats. The rain short-lived. how
ever, and the sun again took over.
The clouds did things to the sun
again and the band and players took
to cover for the duration of another
shower.
The tarpaulin, which had been put
away. was unrolled once more and this
time pulled over the infield.
The Athletics. natty in travelling
gray and blue caps, to match the
snappy appearance of the Senator'S
in creamy uniforms and dark caps
finally came out The canvas was
dragged off and Mr.. Macks lads took
their Warm-up.
Players Take Field.
Shortly after noon the stadium
really began to look like open day as
Goldman's Band tuned up, 125 police
men marched in and players came on
to the field.
Encouraged by swingtime music
and some not so sWingy-the WASH
ington players took practice cuts at
the offerings of Nick Altrock and
Goose Goslin. once again wearing the
| livery of the Nationals.
Little Johnny Mihalic, substitute
second baseman, passed up his pre-
game workout to record the doings of
his mates with a movie camera. and
Altrock, the perennial clown. INDUCED
in bit of buffoonery-such as slid
ing through the coils of tuba and
posing as musician for the benefit of
enterprising photographers.
Garner to Attend.
The President was not due at the
stadium until few minutes before the
game started. but his f1ag-draped box
was getting much attention hours be-
fore from Clark Griffith. The Wash
ington club president, sporting a new
pearl-gray fedora and an evil-looking
stogie, saw to it everything was spic
and span for the White House party.
Guests in the presidential party we're
to include Mr.. Roosevelt's three secre-
tarieS, Stephen Early. M H. Mcintyre,
who has just recovered from an illness
which confined him to the Naval Hos
pital for more than a week, and Col
James Roosevelt his eldest son; Harry
L. Hopkins. Works Progress adminis-
TRAITOR; Capt. Walter Woodson and Col.
Edwin Watson, White Hour, naval and
military aides. respective DR.. Ross
T. McIntire. White Hou physician,
and Rudolph Forster. executive secre-
tary at the White House, who has at
tended baseball games with Presidents
dating as far back as Mckinley.
Also to occupy box near the home
team dugout was Vice President
Garner, who was to have among his
guests probably the only former major
Lacquer in CongreSs-Senator Brown
of New Hampshire. The Senator did
some pitching for the Boston Braves
about 35 years ago.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the
ma sjority leader, and Senator McNary
Of Oregon. minority leader, also were
to sit with the Vice President
President Roosevelts pitch was to
be made with a glistening regulation
ball, which, incidentally will never
reach the diamond.
"One-Eye" Connolly Appears.
He was expected to hold it aloft for
everybody to see, pose for the camera
men and then toss it in the direction
of the assembled members of both
teams, who will make dive for it.
Whoever gets the ball keeps it as a
souvenir
One of the unheralded. but not
(See BASEBALL, Page A-3)
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