Again, Baseball

New consignments of fat sausages, clinking cases of fizzy drinks, fragrant bales of fresh-printed programs, moved through the land this week in preparation for an annual event of great importance--the opening of the Big League baseball season.

Once a national pastime, now a Big Business, baseball still remains the same old-time game. Unlike football, its authorities seldom countenance changes in the rules. This year they rejected a radical plan for ten-man teams (the tenth man was to bat for the pitcher).

General interest this year (distinct from local interest in home-town teams) centres in efforts to crush the dominance of the New York Yankees (American League), undefeated in the last two World Series. At last opponents see a ray of hope. Small, shrewd Miller Huggins, the Yankee manager, has been forced to replace an important cog in his almost-perfect machine. The agile legs of Joe Dugan, third baseman, gave way. Huggins has moved Mark Koenig, shortstop, to that position.

To fill in at shortstop, Huggins bought the services of one Lynford Lary from the Oakland, Calif., club for a reported price of $75,000. Florida sunshine, however, revealed serious faults in Lary's fielding. What to do? A young man on the substitute bench, Leo Durocher, had the answer. Durocher is 23. He did not cost $75,000, nor one-tenth that much. He has been on the Yankee "Yannigan" string for several years. Huggins liked him because he was alive. When the oldtimers "rode"' Durocher he talked back. He even wrote them fresh letters in his off hours. When Durocher talked this time he had the right answer. He wanted to play shortstop. That is just what he will do now and a long step it is for a youth of 23.

Experts agree there is little hope of heading off the Yankees in the American League. Cornelius McGillicuddy ("Connie Mack"), Philadelphia's oldtime practitioner, has virtually the same team that proved unequal to the task last year. Other teams have improved but probably not enough. The American League has two new managers who may stir new interest. Walter Johnson, long venerated pitcher (now retired) of the Washington Senators is now in charge of the team. Stanley ("Bucky") Harris, whom he replaced, has taken over the Detroit team.

In the National League, however, there is a real rival for the chesty Yankees. Backed by the chewing-gum millions of William Wrigley Jr., Manager Joe McCarthy has built up a formidable combination. Said Bucky Harris after the Chicago Cubs had beaten his Detroit Tigers five straight games in spring training: "It is the greatest team I have ever seen on a baseball field." Harris has seen the Yankees. He has seen them at their best.

McCarthy is a quiet, unostentatious leader. He did not make a Big League name as a player. In the minor leagues he was considered a competent, not a brilliant infielder, but eventually he became a manager at Louisville (American Association). He began winning pennants. He attracted Tycoon Wrigley's eye. At Chicago he built carefully, and his final punch came with the acquisition of Rogers Hornsby, for whom he traded five players and considerable currency to Boston. The addition of Hornsby gives Chicago a "Murderer's Row" of batters comparable to the famed Yankee quartet of Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Koenig. The Chicago "Row" contains "Kiki" Cuyler, Hornsby, "Hack" Wilson, Riggs Stephenson. Experts everywhere predict that the Cubs will sweep through the National League. Chicago bettors are already willing to back their team in the 1929 World Series.

The National League also has two new managers. At St. Louis, Bill McKechnie was deposed, despite the fact he won the league pennant last year, and replaced by Billy Southworth, who managed Rochester (International League) last year. In Boston President Emil Fuchs has announced that he will be manager in name and that the team's play will be directed by a board of three, the other members being Johnny Evers and Hank Gowdy, oldtime stars. This is a new departure, viewed with skepticism.

The spring training season has brought forth the usual crop of future Babe Ruths and Grover Cleveland Alexanders. They have flashed in the southern sun as have others before them. Now they are "great." TIME publishes a list of them. In July TIME will publish the same list with word as to which have stayed "great." which returned to the bush leagues. The list:

Player Position Team

Hassler Infielder Philadelphia (A )

Yerkes Pitcher Philadelphia (A)

Rhyne Infielder Boston (A)

Narlesky Infielder Boston (A)

Porter Outfielder Cleveland (A)

Averill Outfielder Cleveland (A)

Alexander Infielder Detroit (A)

Kerr Infielder Chicago (A)

McKain Pitcher Chicago (A)

Hoffman Outfielder Chicago (A)

Ferrell Catcher St. Louis (A)

Cobb Pitcher St. Louis (A)

Grimes Infielder St. Louis (A)

Liska Pitcher Washington (A)

Rhodes Pitcher New York (A)

Sherid Pitcher New York (A)

Jorgens Catcher New York (A)

Seibold Pitcher Boston (N)

Susce Catcher Philadelphia (N)

Swetonic Pitcher Pittsburgh (N)

Sheeley Infielder Pittsburgh (N)

Delker Infielder St. Louis (N)

Battison Pitcher Brooklyn (N)

Lautenbacher Pitcher Chicago (N)