Evening star., 1945-04-16
Griffmen Will Visit
As Tomorrow for
3-Game Series
By JOHN b. KELLER.

Washington must wait until Fri
day for its baseball inaugural.
Then the same opening ceremony
that was planned for this after
noon and the same clubs-the Mats
and New York Yankees-will be
presented for the more than 80 900
vino had been expected at Griffith
Stadium today.
Hardly had Clark Griffith, presi-
dent of the Washington club,
reached decision at 1920 to cancel
today's activities at the ball park
because of the cold and persistent
drizzle blowing out of the Northeast
before Manager Os Bluege and his
players were on the way to their
homes, later to entrain for Phila-
delphia, where tomorrow they will
help Connie Mack's Athletics usher
in the Quaker City season. They'll
remain three days.
The Yankees, who had left their
hotel for Griffith Stadium, were inn
mediately notified of the postpone
ment and they prepared for an early
return to New York for tomorroWs
initial clash with Boston Red Sox.
Leonard to Face AS.
Bluege said he contemplated no
changes in the lineup he had an
nounced for today for the opener in
Philadelphia. Dutch Leonard will
be carried over as the first-game
pitcher for the Mats. The AS likely
will counter with Russ Christopher,
a right-hander who was their best
last year.
The latest lineup revision restored
Walter Chipple, draftee from Mon
treal, to the center-field post and
sends Jake Powell, veteran, who
has been with the squad only
week, back to the bench. Bluege
isn't convinced that Powell is in
proper trim for regular service
With Chipple in, George Case will
switch to his former left-f1eld job,
while George Binks. newcomer from
Milwaukee, will play in right unless
the opposition employs a left-hand
pitcher. Then Joe Zardon, a right
hand swinging rookie, will supplant
the portside poking Binks
Otherwise. the starting lineup
was to be the same as that used
in exhibitions over the past two
weeks Joe kuhel at first base,
George Myatt at second, Gil Torres
at short and Harlond Cliff at third
were to fill the infield. AL Evans,
third -stringer last season. was
to be behind the bat.
While the drizzle that began last
night had not affected the playing
field in Griffith Stadium-the huge
tarpaulin was thrown over the in
field yesterday-the seats in the
stands were thoroughly wet and that
with puddles of water underfoot
would have made the afternoon
thoroughly uncomfortable for spec
tators. 1t was this more than the
inclement weather that impelled the
Mats front office to postpone the
opening.
Program Will Garry Over.
Speaker Sam Rayburn of the
House of Representatives was to
have made the formal pitch OPEN
ing the season and Assistant Sec
retary of War Robert P. Patterson
was to fave marched with Walter
johnson, former Nat pitcher and
leading record-holder for slab feats
in the history of baseball. behind
the Navy Band to centerfeld for the
hag-raising before the game. A
brief tribute to the memory of the
late President was to have followed.
The same program will be in order
Friday.
All tickets sold for today's game
will remain valid for Fridays en-
gagement or until the Washington
opening game is played.
The gates of the ball park had not
been opened at noon as originally
scheduled and less than a hundred
fans were gathered before the en-
frances Griffith made the decision
to call off everything after visit
to the heavy field and the drenched
stands.