Evening star., 1940-04-16
All Clubs Except
Yankees, Cards
AT Peak 10 Go
Di Mag Out Of Fourth
Opener in 5 Years;
Stu Martin IdIes
By JUDSON BAILEY,

NEW YORK, April 16.-Menaclng
clouds cast the getaway Of base
balls Is major league clubs into
gloom and uncertainty today, but
all were chafing for the chance to
spring into action.
The weather, fair and cold
throughout the East and Midwest
over the week end, turned traitorous
on the eve of the opening and not
a single game was safe from the
threat of the elements as the flag
raising time approached.
From every one of the inaugural
sites came the same report-colo,
cloudy and showers threatened.
Whether any of the games were to
be played depended largely on when
the showers started-early or late-
in the respective cities.
The schedule called for these
eight openers:
American League. National League.
Boston at Wash. Chi. at Cincinnati
N. Y. at Phila. Pittsb'gh at st. L.
SACfC. az SiilCdSO Illlld. dL ~. L.
st. l.. at Detroit Br'klyn at Boston
Yanks Start Under Handicap.
In each case the games were
listed as the first of a three-game
series, and any interference in the
lld-lifting today would merely post.
pone the ceremonies until tomor.
row, with the cast and scenery
unchanged. If all eight games es-
capped trouble today upward OF
10000 fans were expected to be
present to give their favorites a
proper send-off.
Naturally the debut of last years
champions was the chief spectacle
in each league.
The four times American League
and world champion New York
Yankees went to Philadelphia with
out Joe Di Maggie and handicapped
by other injuries. 1t was the fourth
time in five years the great out
fielder had been absent from an
opening, so the fact that he was
in New York nursing a twisted
knee could hardly be considered
vital.
However, Red Ruffing was hit by
batted ball in practice yesterday,
making his start also doubtful; Joe
Gordon has been out of the line
up for two weeks with a charley
horse and Reserve Outfielder Jake
Powell is convalescing from brain
conclusion.
Manager Joe Mccarthy planned
to use Monte Pearson if Rufing
was unable to play today, and
Connie Mack countered with Lefty
Chubby Dean.
Reds Yearn for Opening Win.
| At Cincinnati the Cincinnati Reds
were ready to start the defense of
their National League title In
game with the Chicago Cubs that
was sure of capacity crowd Of
| approximately $4,000. Reserved seat
tickets have all been sold for months,
! although the Reds have lost every
opening game in the last eight
years.
Two of the finest hurlers in the
senior circuit, Paul Derringer of
the Reds and Bill Lee of the Cubs,
were the mound choices.
Aside from these two attractions,
the annual test of President Roose-
velts pitching prowess in the Boston
Red Sox's appearance at the Nations
Capital was the days best sideshow.
When the Nationals No. fan got
through throwing, Dutch Leonard
was scheduled to take over for q
duel with Lefty Grove.
The biggest turnout of the after
noon was expected in Detroit, where
Tiger officials prepared to handle a
throng of 10000 persons. Manager
Del Baker of the Bengals listed
Charley Gehringer for duty at Sec
ond base, hopeful sign for Detroit
fans, and planned to pitch big Buck
Newsom against Vernon Kennedy
of the st. Louis Browns.
Big Turnout for Cards.
The other American League tussle
was to serve as young Bob Feller's
springboard to big year. The Chi
cago White Sox relied on Ed Smith,
a southpaw, to stop the Indians.
St. Louis, butt of much abuse
about the poor attendance at it's
baseball games during the season,
has had the biggest opening day
sale in history for the Cardinals
debut against the Pirates. If the
weather was agreeable the crowd
was likely to be $4,000 or 10000. But
Manager Ray Blades had so many
troubles he got little joy at this
prospect.