Evening star., 1947-04-15
Mats Get Delayed Start As Other Clubs Oper
|Griffs, in Boston, Hope
10 Start Champions
|0f on Wrong Foot
By Burton Howkins
stor stoff Correspondent

4 o10I SIOII AosfeSPopdeht
BOSTON, April 15.-Here in the
confines of Fenway Park, where the
ieft-fleld fence Is hubbed niblick
shot from home plate, the Mats are
hoping to demonstrate that the Bos-
ton Red Sox won't get the tre-
mendous leap on the remainder of
the field that they engineered last
year.
Boston last season spurted from
| the barrier as If caressed by glow
| ing riyets. The Red Sox won their
| first Is games, vaulting into a five
and one -half-game lead before the
other teams in the league blinked
unbelieving eyes and became aware
of the fact that Boston was making
| a runaway of the American League
pennant race.
| That spectacular start by the Red
Sox was blow from which the
remainder of the league never re-
covered, but this season the Mats
are aiming to remedy that condi-
ton at the outset. Beaten by the
Red Sox l6 times in % games last
season, the Mats have summoned
fresh optimism in a new start and
what they feel is an improved club.
Early Wynn Due to Start.
Making delayed debut weather
permitting) here today after being
rained out of scheduled opener
with the Yankees yesterday at Grit
nth Stadium, the Mats were to rely
on Early Wynn as a pitching choice
and were convinced there is some
thing prophetic In a name.
Manager Ossie Bluege will stick
with his original pitching plans
against the Red Sox. Tomorrow
he'll employ stubby Mickey Haefner
then TOSS towering Sid Hudson at
Boston, withholding Bobo Newsom
from action until Friday, when the
Mats return to the Capital to battle
the Yankees.
Meanwhile, the American League
champs We're preparing no easy time
OF it for the Mats. Slated to take
the mound today was handsome Tex
Hughson and the Mats probably will
draw Mickey Harris tomorrow and
Boo Ferriss on Thursday. A 20
game winner last year, Hughson
generally is rough on the Mats.
1t was an eager crowd of 27.00O
which braved a steady rain yester-
day at Washington, only to be
turned away reluctantly by Presi-
dent Clark Griffith of the Mats.
Griffith delayed his decision until 3
o'clock on a report that rain would
cease an hour before game time.
Truman Promises to Return.
Despite the chilly, damp weather
some fans booed when announce
ment of the postponement until
Friday was made over the public
address system. Many fans had
huddled for hours in unrelenting
rain and until the last moment
Griffith was determined to play the
game
President Truman's car pulled
into the stadium grounds behind the
main concession stand and the Pres
ident and Griffith chatted for sew
eral moments before Griffith aban-
doned hope of playing. Viewed only
by a few fans, MIR. Truman didn't
walk to a wet, slick seat in his flag
decorated box but promised the
Mats boss he would return for de-
layed opening game festivities on
Friday. He volunteered to wait
around yesterday to see if the wea-
ther would clear, but Griff1th CRATE
fully rejected the offer.
Opening game tickets will be good
only on Friday. If those tickets
are undesired they may be cashed
in at Griffith Stadium today and
tomorrow. Tickets purchased for
Fridays game, which originally
would have been the Mats second
contest at Washington, must be
exchanged for subsequent game.
Wooten Disappointed.
Outflelder Earl Wooten of the
Mats, who was to see his first ma ior
league game today, was the most
disappointed fellow in the stadium
when the game was postponed yes
terday. He had his heart set
on seeing the President. The
postponement came as no particu-
lar blow to Manager Bucky Harris
OF the Yankees. Tommy Hen |
rich had strained wrist and Bobby |
Brown had an attack of ptomaine
poisoning, but both may be ready
to play by Friday.
Hitting and fielding practices were
skipped by both clubs as the tar
paulin remained over the infield and
not ball was thrown. Bobo
Newsom. peeling off his uniform,
said, They just couldn't touch me
today. I was never better" i
Bluege had instructed Ray Scar
borough, Tom Ferrick and Walter
Masterson to report to the bullpen,
but rain relieved them of any pos
sibility of relieving Newsom.
President Truman predicts 80
victory for the Mats on Friday.
He selected that score yesterday at
a senatorial luncheon. Trans
parent rain hoods, Army surplus, |
were the days best sellers. Sec
retary Ed Eynon says a minimum
of $1,000 tickets could have been
sold for the opening game. THE |
demand was so heavy" said Eynon,
that's there is no limit to the
crowd We could have had if we had
large enough stadium"
Rainchecks for yesterdays Wash
ington-New York game will be valid
for the same seats Friday. Fans
unable to attend Fridays game may
return them for resale until to-
morrow and obtain refund. Tickets
previously sold for Fridays game
may be exchanged for a later game.
l2-Gome Loop Schedule
Announced hv Redskins