Evening star., 1942-04-14
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Setting for Season S
Sturt Most UnusuoI
In Comes History
BY AUSTIN BEALMEAR,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


NEW YORK, April 14.-This is
the day that business men neglect
their business, professional men
neglect their secretaries and Office
boys beg off for grandma's funeral.
It's major league baseball's opening
day.
Unless the weather intervenes, all
16 teams will move of together this
afternoon, with something like 200,-
900 fans in the stands and count
less others following their favorites
by remote control. rs
Facing their first wartime season
since 1918, the 67th annual National
League campaign and the 42d for
the American circuit open in the
most unusual setting In the history
Of baseball.
The war failed to interfere with
the country's national sport because
President Roosevelt bade the game
go on. But the customers will have
a hard time forgetting that the
United States Is at war.
Air raid precautions will be OBJ
served day and night at most Of the
major league parks. Signs and
arrows will tell the fans which way
to go to be safe from bombardmept
information that also might be
helpful to visiting pitchers in places
like Yankee Stadium. aA'
Yank Artillery Still Loaded.
Barrels Of water, bins Of sand and
other paraphernalia unknown to
ball parks in. the past will be found
in strategic places now. And If
some clubs don't perform better
than they did in spring training,
they may find the customers turn
ing to the sand piles for amuse-
ment
The 1941 champions of both the
leagues open on foreign fields. The
New York Yankees, owners of the
American League and World Series
crowns, start their drive for the
sixth pennant in seven years against
Washington in the Nations Capital.
The Brooklyn Dodgers begin the
defense Of their National League
title against their blood enemies, the
Giants, at New York's Polo Grounds.
The Yankees, top-heavy fayorites
to rule the junior circuit again,
open with new faces at the far cor
ners of the infield, but with all
their heavy artillery still loaded.
While the Mats waded through the
Grapefruit League as If they owned
it, they'll be cunning for the pen
nant with a made-over lineup that
contains more question marks than
quiz program. 81
Old Rivals Clash In West. 50
Basebau's contribution to the war
effort is exemplif1ed at Detroit,
where a Cleveland team without
Bob Feller makes its first start un-
der young Lou Boudreau against q
Detroit team without Hank Green
berg.
The Indian mound ace and the
Tiger slugger, like more than so
other major leaguers, are on a big
ger team. managed by Uncle Sam.
At Chicago, the White Sox start
urwrapping their pitching finery
against the st. Louis Browns, who
offer a well-balanced club in spite
of numerous losses to the armed
forces, all by way of enlistment.
The White Sox, as In 1941, are
putting all their eggs on the Pitch
ers' mound and depending on the
hurlers and the managerial magic
Of Jimmy Dykes to pull them
, through. Chief hope of the
Brownies strength lies with Junior
Stephens. who must I'LL John Ber-
ardino'S vacated shortstop berth to
keep things running smoothly.
Connie Mack's Philadelphia Ath-
letics, tagged for a repeat perform
ance in the cellar despite an over
haul job, are at Boston to open
against a Red Sox team that fin
ished second last year and could do
it again II the pitchers come
| through. The Seekers, however,
didn't win game from an Ameri-
can League foe in the Citrus Circuit.
Brooklyn Is Bolstered.
The Brooklyn Dodgers, bolstered
by the addition Of such players ais
Arky Vaughan, Augie Galan and
Johnny Rizzo to their pennant stars
Of 1s41, begin their bid against b
New York Giants crew THAI has
spiked up with Johnny Mize, Bill
Werber, Hank Leiber and a host OF
promising rockies.
The Giants have turned the man
agership over to Mel OFT, who still
(See OPENERS, Page A-l5J