Evening star., 1963-04-08
Fast Getaway Sore|y Needed by Senators
Team Goals
May Hang on
Early Play
BY MERRELL WHITTLESEY
Star staff Writer


star Staff Writer
For q team which has such
modest ambitions as escaping
the cellar and drawing more
than 100000 people in its sec
ond year in d. C. Stadium, a
fast getaway is Of utmost i'm
portance to the Senators this
year.
Including today's opening
game with the Orioles. the
Senator'S play IS Of their first
10 games at home.
If the Senators could play
500 ball over this stretch, and
get a break in the weather.
they could get fast start to-
ward their biggest attendance
since 1947, when the old club
drew 850,758.
Washington has had only one
million-plus season-in 1946,
when the team drew I,027.2l6.
1t is reasoned that a first
division ball club in the new
stadium would mean at least
a 1000, 900 count.
Return Here Thursday
Tomorrow is an open date,
planned by the schedule makers
as o holdover date in case the
opener is rained out.
The Senators go to Baltimore
Wednesday to help the Orioles
open their season. and return
Thursday night to meet the
Red Sox. Good Friday is an
open date, and the Red Sox are
here Saturday and Sunday
afternoons.
A whopping crowd is ex-
pected Saturday, which is the
first Knothole Club day of the
season. More than $4,000
youngsters have signed up for
the group sponsored by The
Star and the ball club.
The Senators have open dates
surrounding a two-game visit
to Cleveland next week. They
meet the Indians Tuesday and
Wednesday nights.
Yankees Come Soon
The Yankees come in Fri
day night. April 10. to open q
three-game series, and the
Angels. Twins and Athletics
will be here the following week. l,
The Senators play IL games in
10 days at home. with the Ath-
letics here for a twi-night dou-
ble-header Friday. April 26.
Last year the Senators won
the opener over the Tigers.
After an open date and two
rainouts they went to Cleveland
and won a five-inning, rain-ab-
breviated game to lead the
league.
But on April 81 they were
in 10th place. and they never
got out. They lost Is straight
games after winning the first
two. In fact, they didn't win
their third game Of the season
until May /.
Joe McClain. now with Rich
mond Of the International
League, Pete Burnside, a mem
Der Of the Orioles staff, Ben
ME Daniels and Claude Osteen
took steady poundings over the
losing streak that buried the
Senators in the cellar for the
season.
This years pitching staff APP
pears to have the shoppers TO
prevent q prolonged losing
streak.
New Faces Help
The club has new faces as
gate attractions that should
help over the early IS games
at home. Minnie Minoso was
one Of the Griffith Stadium fa-
vor1tes when he was with the
White Sox and Indians, and
Tom Brown adds the local
touch.
Don Lock hit seven home
runs In spring training and
looms as an early threat in the
home run race, particularly
with the club at home for q
long stand.
And the schedule makers
we're kind TO the Senator'S in
the caliber Of the early opposi-
ton. The Red Sox will show
off Dick Stuart over the week
end. and the Angels and Twins,
both contenders. follow the
Yankees.
Mickey Vernon fully realizes
the Importance Of a fast start
this year and II was seen in his
manipulations during the final
days of spring training.