The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-05
CENTURY FETE FOR BASEBALL
 TO OPEN MAY s
Three : Month Celebration Will Reach Climax
 On June l2
BY HARRY L. FRIEDMAN United Press Staff Correspondent,

United Press Staff COrrespOndent)
 Cooperstown, N. Y, May 5-(UP). Baseball is winding up for inaugu- ration May of a three-months celebration of its founding, 100 springs after West Pointer Abner Doubleday eliminated the popular fun of soaking town ball" runners with pitched balls.
 Fans are expected to crowd into this quiet little village, known equally for its pioneer author for its claim to the birthplace of settler, James Fenimore Cooper, as baseball. Scholastic, college, minor and ma jor league exhibition games will at- test the games rise to billion dol- lar industry from the village green pastime of Doubleday and his fol- lowers.
 "Immortals" Meet June 12
 The star attraction, of course, will be the June 12 meeting of baseballs living "immortalS"- Baseball Writers Association as the all-time best-for dedication of the games Hall of Fame.
 The opening May 6, however, will be inauspicious. The first celebration ball game will be between two mili- tary prep schools, Manlius Academy, of Manlius, N. Y, and Albany Academy, of Albany, to commemo- rate Maj.-Gen. Doubleday's military career. Doubleday reputedly marked out the first diamond and laid down rules of the new game while a mili- tary student in Cooperstown in 1889.
 An enlarged, improved Double day Field, scene of the opener and the other festivities, is presumably the site of the genears first dia- mond, which incidentally has never been changed from its roiginal di- mensions-90 feet between bases.
 On May 30, the Army baseball team and officials from West Point will arrive for a game with the Col gate varsity. On that day the un- yelling of the famed West Point alumnus' picture in the Hall of Fame will take place.
 College Games to Follow
 Other games in May include: May 9-Hamilton College vs. Roch- ester University; May 13 Ford ham vs. Boston College; May 16- Williams vs. Amherst; May 20- Union College vs Rensselear Poly technic Institute; May 27-Buck- nell vs. St. Lawrence University.
 Also on May 27, Mrs. Christy Mathewson, widow of the famed pitcher, and Mrs. John J. McGraw, whose late husband was manager of the New York Giants, will un- veil the Hall of Fame bust of Mathewson.
 The Cavalcade of Baseball, the climax. will include a major league exhibition game along with appear ance of the "immortals" Cobb, Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, Napoleon l. joie, Iris Speaker, Denton Young. Eddie Col lins, Grover Cleveland Alexander, and George Sisler-and major league officials. The teams have not been selected.
 The three-months festivities will have a county fair atmosphere in sidelight celebrations ranging from county music festival day to an old-fashioned firemen's parade and Boy Scout "camporee."
 U. S. to Issue Stamp
 The Federal government will officially recognize baseball for the first time June 12, when Postmaster General James A. Farley is expected to sell the first commemorative base- ball stamps.
 Other scheduled events are: June 3-Hartwick College vs. Springfield (Mass) College: June 10 - New York State High School Athletic Association all-star championship; 1;
 June 15-Corneil vs Illinois Wes- leyan: June 24 Chelsea. Mass, High School vs. Cooperstown II. S.
 July 4-Press vs. Municipal. ali star; July o-Minor League Day. with leading players selected from 37 American and Canadian minor leagues; July 22-Mohawk Colored Giants vs. Havana Cubans: July D. Connie Mack Day with Phiia- delphia Athletics vs. Penn Athletic Club.
 Alexander Cartwright, "father of organized baseball" also is tO ee