The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-14
orr, DUROCHER BUY WAR BONDS
 BEFORE GAME
0reenberg Remembered SellOut at Polo Grounds;
 Many New Faces Listed
BY GEORGE KHRKsEY tunltea Press Staff CoEFespondentl

New York, April 1S. -- (up) - Democratic America opens the base bell season today without taking its eye off the ball In the BIO CAME Itself -- licking the Axis,
 Tho Tanks orc favored to win In baseball and on tho hattletield,
 More, than 100000 persons, inelud- ing many soldiers and sailors, will attend tho ie42 inaugural on the eight major league fronts, Every ball player and fan alike iS pledged to do his part in the main Job ahead.
 Already 70 major league players arc wearing army khaki and navy blue including, among others, Hank Greenherg, highest salarled player in the games history next to Babe Ruth, who gave up Q e60,000 salary to serve his country,
 Opening day eeremonios will feat- ure c patriotic and milltArlstle mos tf., Gold Glory will float in tho breeSo, bands will blare martial tunes and military and naval lead- CTS will take part In the program - to say nothing of Tanks in khaki and blue who'll Do admitted freo. The Giants will admit 3, 100 soldiers and sailors Co today's opener at the Polo Grounds and every day thOre- after, Other clubs wil do likewise.
 Baseball's pledge to contribute 10 per cent of it's earning power to the war effort will be given Q sendotf At tho 6ant-D Dodgers opener when Mayor r, II. LeS1uardla of New York will sell Managers Leo Durocher and Nell Ott War Bonds equal Co 10 per cent of their salaries. Each club has advanced It's manager the amount of his bond pledge for the occasion. Players will make their purchases each pay day,
 Many star players VII lsoon eX- change their bats for. rifles, Pete Reiser Brooklyn'B star center fielder and National League batting cham plon, has been reelAssiDed in isA and may be called within c few weeks,
 T.D.R. Uncertain
 Tn Washington . capacity crowd VA JVlVVV NbA thb SAt w wv hW world champion Yankees open tho season against tho Senators, who have contributed a dozen of their players to the service, President Roosevelt, who has tossed out tho first ball more often than any other President, may not be ablo to Rt- tend because of pressing duties. 1T he does, 1t will Dc the second time he has opened . baseball season il tho midst of . world war, Book in 1918 President Wilson designated Roosevelt, then tho assistant Seere- taFy Of the navy, to represent him nc the Washington opener,
 The days largest crowd will at tend the premiere Of the National League champions Dodgers and Qi- ants at the Polo Grounds, All box and reserved seats were sold dayS ago and the crowd iS expected to reach b0,000 - largest opening at the Polo Grounds In eight years,
 There is no lack Of interest any where. Tho public welcomes base- ball AS e chance for diverSion.
 Opening day linoups arc filled with new faces and rockies. There are many gaps caused by tho na- tional emergency, Twontysone rockies had come up, T'h0re'll Do moro newcomers too before the year Is out Two Of tho brightest youngsters arc John Pcsky, Red SoX shortAtop who showed enough % put his boss, Joe Cronin, on the bench, and stan Muslal, tho Car dlnalS' sensational outheldOr who Tod three leagues In batting last season