Evening star., 1946-04-16
Pre-Gane Ankle
Injury Benches
GeorgeMydtt
$4,000 on Hand
ToWotch Trumon
Throw First Ball
By Froncis {. Stonn

Washington lost a regular
player and the Boston Red Sox
regained their star slugger, Ted
Williams, an hour and a half
before the teams officially were
to open the 1946 major league
season today at Griffith Stadium.
Williams was confined to his ho-
tel bed yesterday with influenza.
Third Baseman George Myatt, who
was to lead off the Mats batting
order, sprained his right ankle when
his spikes caught in a crack in the
concrete dugout steps before batting
practice and was pronounced unfit
for service by Trainer Mike Martin.
A sellout crowd of $4,000 was
expected to be on hand to watch
President Truman throw out the
first ball at pm. Admiral Chester
w. Nimitz and the Army Band were
to be cofeatured in the flagraising
ceremony. The park started filling
at II am. when the gates were
thrown open to early comers anxious
to get look at such star performers
as Williams, Tex Hughson, Bobby
Doerr, Dom Di Maggie, Johnny
Pesky, Stan Spence and Mickey
Vernon
Temperature Below go.
The sky was slightly overcast for
the inaugural, with a gusty wind
sending the temperature below so.
Some 5000 fans. many of whom
had been standing in line since 6
am. halffllled the bleachers by noon
and greeted the Mats with cheers as
they began warming up at 1890 and
turned to batting practice Is min
yates later. The Red SoX did not
appear until o'clock.
Early pregame ceremonies were as
gala as in pre-Pearl Harbor days.
Goldman's Band played for early
arrivals and during hitting practice.
The park was decorated with red,
white and blue bunting and despite
the cool weather a carnival atmos-
phere was reflected
Tex Hughson, foot 3-inch right
hand pitcher, remained Manager Joe
Cronin's choice to face the Mats.
He was to be opposed by Roger
Wolff.
Robertson to Play.
Martin placed ice packs on Myatt's
ankle and after he removed the first
injury he informed Manager Ossie
Bluege that Myatt was out. Bluege
promptly named Sherrard Robertson
as his replacement, although Robert
son is not good leadof hitter.
Meanwhile, Boston's Williams,
who had been confined to his hotel
bed yesterday with an attack of
influenza, showed up at the park
and announced that he was going
to play. If his illness weakened him
to any extent it was not noticeable
to the early fans, whom he thrilled
by slamming two successive drives
over the right-feld fence the first
time up in the hitting drill.
The first of Williams smashes
was a towering ball that easily car
ried more than 400 feet on the fly.
1t bounded off house top beyond
the right-field fence.
Martin said that he could not
yet hazard a guess as to when
Myatt will be available to play, but
if Robertson opens well Bluege in
dicated, he will be given every
chance at third base. He is longer
hitter than Myatt, although erratic
in the field.
Puts Damper on Mats.
Myatt's injury put a damper on
the Mats, who value Myatt for his
speedy base running and aggressive
ness.
Williams batting show previously
was matched by Mickey Vernon Of
the Mats, who also hit two balls over
the right-feld fence during a single
turn in the batting cage They
lacked the distance of Williams
wallops, perhaps. but they cleared
the fence by good margin.
1t became obvious in practice that
the chilling wind which swept the
field was no disadvantage to the
hitters, particularly the left-handers,
as it came out of the north and
blew toward the fence. Williams
hit two more drives over the wall
on his second appearance. although
every one of his o'clock home runs
would have cleared without help
from the wind.