Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-06
ATCHISON'S
ANGLE
It's That Time Aqoin
BY LEWIS F. ATcHIsoN

"WHADDYA MEAN, YOU spent the money to buy
tickets for the opening game? Last you said you'd
go to those buns play again. didn't you? And
spend good money for tickets for the
ing game"
But honey, this is different"
whats different about it?"
"It's the opening game-its THE game. There's just
something about it that sets it apart from the rest"
you mean they're gonna use IL men side,
something's"
mo, not that"
Are they gonna play 10 innings, maybe double
header?"
the excitement of another getting under way"
Its just another ball game to meand if you ask me,
they'll be just as bad as last year"
But the President is supposed to throw out the first
Il read in the newspapers that he's going south to
play golf"
"Then they'll have the Vice President do it."
He'd better be careful the Democrats don't throw
him out"
THEY'LL HAVE THE Army Band to lead the march
to centerfeld."
Il like the Marine Band better"
Then the President whoever is, will throw out
the first ball, and what scramble that will be-"
Eyes and their best player probably will get stepped
and won't be able to play for month trying to catch
a dollar and a-haf ball. That's stupid"
Before the game therel be music by Goldmans
Band"
Did you say Goldmans Band?"
YEAH why?"
Meyer Goldman?"
You're thinking of Meyer Davis"
Il like Goldman'S Band They don't play that rock
n roll stuff They play the kind of music like guess
that's what makes opening day different Here I've got
little mad money tucked in my stocking Take those
tickets back and exchange them for box seats-right
behind Godman's Band"
OPENING GAMES ARE different, and not only be-
cause Thursdays program includes Goldman's Band.
"A player works himself into condition for the opener
osSe Buege told There's something about that sets
1t apart from all other games You're eager tense and
guess little before it begins and you want to
be at your best for it.
The next day. against the same team or any other
team in another city it's just another ball game It's quite
letdown to watch the mayor city official throw
out the first ball after you've the President of the
United States perform In the other they've got
military color guard to lead the march to the fagpoe
and it loses something after you've marched behind that
big Army Band
There's particular opening game this one against
New York at Griffith Stadium that the Senators
third baseman will not forget That the year the
cat-lke OsSie felded Ben Chapmans bunt and conked
Pitcher Buck Newsom Che wasn't known Bobo those
days behind the stricken silence enveloped the
stadium players rushed to Newsom who didn't fall
but was dancing with pain. holding his head.
1t must have been troubling moment for Bluege.
1T was" OSSie said Il always prided myself on the
power got into those throws to first those bunts
and when NewSom didn't go down l figured was losing
my zing. OF course. he always a tough baby"
JOE JUDGE LIKES to think back to the 1926 opening
game in which Walter Johnson bested Eddie Rommel,
To- in 15-innng pitchers battle 1t bitterly cold
day, but the two rivals gave mid-SeaSon exhibition
although there are some who the batters simply
too cold to swing.
"One thing about having Johnson the team" Joe
Said there any doubt who would pitch the
opener. And think he than any other pitcher
Judge who retired last year as head baseball coach
at Georgetown played in II consecutive openings here
a record in itself
ITS the only record hold" he said with laugh.
One can always bark back to the 1888 opening when
zoe CrUnn mace ms debut manager of the Washington
team and piloed it to victory before Franklin Delano
Roosevelt AS Joe huStng into the dugout following
the last putou the Chief Executive motioned him to the
presidential box.
That was fine start" the President said keep up
the good work"
joe was so encouraged by this he went on to win
the pennant =