The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-15
l5o,oo0FANS MAY :
SEE FIRST GAMES
Yankees-Athletics Tilt Takes
Spotlight Along With
Reds Cubs Contest
BY JUDSON BAILEY

clubs waited hopefully today for a
breath of spring to bless Tuesdays
eight-game opening program.
There was reason to believe they
might get it.
In contrast to the persistent rains
that washed out most of the con-
tests scheduled for the first three
or four days last year, dry condi-
tons prevailed throughout the east
and midwest and f~orecasters said
warm winds would give tempera-
lures in the big league towns a
boost before Tuesday.
If the weather man can be
shaken out of his pernicious habits,
the inaugural will include these
Games:
American League
Boston at Washington
New York at Philadelphia
Cleveland at Chicago
st. Louis at Detroit
National League
chicago at OlIlCIlllldlA
Pittsburgh at St. Louis
Brooklyn at Boston
Philadelphia at New York
These attractions should bring a
first-day turnout Of more than $780,
600 fans, possibly as many as ZOO.
600.
President Roosevelt will continue
the presidential custom of throw.
ing out the first ball in the capital
and various mayors and other dig
nitaries will perform this ceremon.
ial function &c other openers.
The presence at Philadelphia of
the New York Yankees, bent on
achieving their fifth consecutive
American league and world cham
pionships, will give the Athletics
debut a share in the spotlight
while National league attention
will be focused on the pennant-
defending Reds getaway against
the Cubs.
AS always Cincinnatfs park Will
be crammed. The Reds usually lose
their first game, but the town, is
the greatest opening day COM
munity in baseball and all reserved
seats for Tuesdays affair have
been sold since December.
Seasoned pitchers are due to get
the call in each of the openers.
The Yankees will rely on Charley
CRed) Ruffing, a 21-game winner
last season, and the Athletics will
counter with Chubby Dean on the
showroom theory that the cham
pions are not impregnable against
southpaw shooting.
Lefty Grove has the call for the
Red Sox against Dutch Leonard in
Washington: Bob Teller will be on
the firing line for Cleveland with
Lefty Ed Smith hurting for the
White Sox and Vernon Kennedy, a
2O-game loser in 1889, will head
the Browns against Tommy Bridg-
ers or Buck Newsom in Detroit.
Naturally enough, Paul Derrln-
ger will be on the mound for Gin
cinnati and Bill Lee for the Cubs;
the Giants will use King Carl Hub
bell against Kirby Higbe Of the
Phillies; Bob Klinger Of the Pirates
is slated to oppose Curt Davis on
Lon Warneke of the Cards and
Whitlow Wyatt is Brooklyn's choice
to oppose Bill Posedel of the Bees.
With the exception Of the Yam
KEGS, every club in the two leagues
is planning to start m or more
rockies and with these untested
parts figuring in the fate of each
club, there is a great deal of un-
certainty surrounding the seasons
prospects.
The National league Is bound to
have its usual dogfight. Although
the Reds again have all the i'm
portant figures of their 1899 pen
nant drive, they are depending on
two newcomers, Mike Mccormick
and Vince DiMaggio, Tor outf1eld
duty and the new spark they'll
need to repeat.
The Cardinals, who almost sue
ceeded in making a dead heat out
of last years race, are trusting in
Rookie Martin Marion at short to
solve their infield problem. The
BROOKLYN Dodgers have an entirely
new outfield; the Giants two
rookie infielders and an outfielder,
and so on down the line.
In the American league the Yam
KEGS, too, have added recruits, but
only to the pitching staff and the
chances are the champs could keep
out in front if none of the new
men ever won a game. Every
member of last years lineup look
ed as good or better than ever in
the spring warm-up games.
However, the Red Sox, who were
inc up last year, have strength
ened themselves and should at least
be able to narrow the gap if some
other club, like the Cleveland In
dams, for instance, hasn't done an
even better job Of winter building.
Boston replaced the veteran Joe
vosmik in the outfteld with a
freshman, Dominic DiMaggio of the
famous San Francisco family, and
came up with some promising
pitching material.
Cleveland ironed out its infield
nroblem with Lou Boudreau and
Ray Mack around second base and
added the experienced Roy (Beau)
Bell in the outfield.
Beyond these three clubs h
American league isn't much more
stable than the backwash of the
senior circuit. Detroit, Washington