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Gore Urges Truman to Use A-Bomb to Create Dehumanized Belt in Korea

All the News That Fits, We Print

The Baseball Once-Upon-A Times.

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1951

FINAL EDITION Including final results of all ball games

FIVE CENTS

VOL. 1, No. 1

Korean War Casts a Dark Cloud On Openers, Anniversary Seasons

WASHINGTON (U.P.) The major leagues begin historic anniversary seasons today in an atmosphere of restraint because of the Korean War and with club owners fully aware that spread of the international crisis could put an end to activities any day. It was to have been a gala year with a National League Diamond Jubilee and an American League Golden Anniversary setting. But plans for a season-long celebration of the 75th and 50th anniversary years were tabled. When they square off in the official openers today at Washington and Cincinnati it will be in a comparatively sober atmosphere under an amber light from President Truman to continue as usual unless a new emergency develops. Presuming respectable weather, close to 300,000 are expected to turn out for the 10 openers scheduled for today and Tuesday. There has been a limited drain on major league rosters thus far for military service needs and with good rookies and young players coming up, the strength of the teams is the greatest since before the start of World War II. Mr. Truman will open the season officially at Griffith Stadium when he throws out the first ball for the game between the Senators and the World Champion New York Yankees. A capacity standing room crowd of 32,000 is anticipated for the socalled presidential opener in which rookie Tom Morgan, a surprise pick by manager Casey Stengel, will oppose tricky lefty Bob Kuzava. The Yankees are adding Mickey Mantle, a 19-yearPresident Harry Truman old wonder boy who played with Joplin, Mo., last year. He is expected to be in right field. Mantle, the most highly publicized rookie since Clint Hartung, homered and hit three singles Sunday in the Yankees final tune-up, a 7-6 loss at Brooklyn. At Cincinnati, where the management makes a big civic occasion of the opener each year, there was also a sell-out of 33,000 expected to see the much improved Reds open against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ewell Blackwell will oppose Pittsburghs lefty, Cliff Chambers. The majors begin the campaign with a man who is commissioner in name only. A.B. (Happy) Chandler again was voted out by the club owners in a final showdown at Miami Beach, Fla., in March and will serve only until they can find a man to succeed him. into the picture. Wars and drafts have more than cut into its growth. The scene has changed only slightly from a year ago this April date. In 1950, the contenders in the American League were New York, Boston, Detroit and Cleveland. The same four are rated in the hunt today with Red Rolfes Tigers given less chance, due largely to the loss of their star young pitcher, Art Houtteman. Of these four AL contenders, the Red Sox have drawn the strongest help in the addition of Lou Boudreau, a fine infielder and an inspirational field leader, plus Bill Wright and Ray Scarborough, two first-class pitchers. Tom Yawkey, Red Sox owner, is a stubborn person when he sets out for a goal. He also has what it takes to reach that goal, if you give him enough time and a few breaks. The race among the Yankees, Red Sox and Indians should carry deep into September. In the National League, a new entry Leo Durochers New York Giants has moved into the pennant race picture.

Final Grapefruit League Standings

AMERICAN Chicago New York Boston Philadelphia Washington Cleveland St. Louis Detroit W 21 21 19 16 14 16 11 6 L 8 11 11 11 13 18 18 14 PCT. .723 .656 .633 .593 .518 .471 .379 .300 GB --1 2 4 6 7 10 10 NATIONAL Brooklyn Chicago Philadelphia Boston New York Cincinnati Pittsburgh St. Louis W 21 16 19 20 16 16 20 15 L 11 9 15 16 13 15 19 15 PCT. .656 .640 .559 .556 .552 .516 .513 .500 GB --3 3 3 3 4 4 5

Todays Probable Starting Pitchers

New York (Morgan 0-0) at Washington (Kuzava 910), 3 p.m.

Todays Probable Starting Pitchers

Pittsburgh (Chambers 12-15) at Cincinnati (Blackwell 17-15), 2:30 p.m.

Stengel, Dressen Like Their Teams to Capture Flag

A survey of big league managers on the eve of the 1951 season turned up a couple skippers sold on their squads. I think were going to win the pennant because were the best team, Brooklyns Chuck Dressen said. Likewise the Yanks Casey Stengel, who said, I have good players and we have the right attitude. Bostons Steve ONeill sees a three-team race in the American League, featuring the Yankees, Cleveland and his Red Sox. The Braves Billy Southworth goes ONeill two better. Im expecting another close race with five clubs competing Brooklyn, New The Giants now range alongside the Dodgers and the Phillies, possibly the soundest club in their circuit. Chuck Dressens Dodgers are the best team in baseball, outside of their pitching department. Here they are weak, or at least uncertain. The NL has a better chance for a keener pennant race where, along with the Giants, Dodgers and Phillies, rated for a photo finish, the Braves and Cardinals can be quite annoying. Those two can cause deep trouble and bring much anguish to the leading contenders. So can Luke Sewells Cincinnati Reds who have been moving up steadily with a younger ball club that should now be about ready. The Phillies and Reds have most of the new material baseball has collected recently and this may begin to show for the Reds this summer. It won a pennant for the Phillies in 1950. With Curt Simmons around, I think the Phillies would be repeating this year. They may, anyway. There are many weak spots in the leading teams of both leagues. York, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Boston. Said the Giants Leo Durocher, We had a good ball club last year and have been strengthened. Meanwhile, an annual Associated Press poll revealed Boston and Brooklyn to be the pennant picks of the nations baseball writers. The Red Sox received the most first place votes, 97 to the Yankees 61, to win the American League pennant. The Dodgers polled 82 top ballots to the Giants 47 in the National League. No choice of the writers has won in either league since 1946. No one knows how many games the brilliant Joe DiMaggio, a great ballplayer, can handle. No one knows how long Ted Williams shattered elbow will stay in place. Musial seems to be better set for another year of stardom than anyone else. Its quite possible that Boudreau will have more effect upon his mates than any other single player. For Boudreau moves into lethargic squad that needs waking up. If the Red Sox cant win the pennant this season, Yawkey might as well fire the entire squad and start from scratch. The rejuvenation of the Giants will be one of baseballs most helpful features. The game has needed them badly in past years. The feats of magic to be shown again by Casey Stengel will be something to watch. You can be sure that Casey will get as much out of his Yankee lineup as any manager now in baseball. He has done just that for the last two years.

Grantland Rice
Says . . .
Teams Pin Flag Hopes On Veteran Players NEW YORK Sixteen major-league ball clubs are getting under way again in two of the closest-looking pennant races the grizzled old game has seen in many seasons. In the absence of important rookies through the last 10 years, the burden of 1951 contention will fall upon veterans, who have been writing most of the story from one campaign to another since 1941. This means Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Enos Slaughter, Phil Rizzuto, Peewee Reese, Eddie Stankey, Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser, Ewell Blackwell, Johnny Mize and many, many more. Baseball is now, in the main, an old mans game with only a few younger stars crowding