APRIL 14, 1910 – The sun is shining, the flannels are starched and pressed, the ushers and tickets takers have taken their place, and the field has been carefully manicured.
Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics head off for Washington this morning – on the 8:30 AM train from Broad Street Station – to officially lift the lid on the 1910 season. A large group of local fans is expected to join them on the excursion. The Mackmen are expected to arrive at Union Station around noon, head over to the Arlington Hotel for lunch, before being whisked away to American League Park.
Waiting for them will be 22-year old flamethrower Walter Johnson and the rest of new manager Jimmy McAleer’s Senators. While the Senators finished dead last in the American League in 1909 – losing 110 games – the young Johnson is a formidable foe.
Mack believes that his club is a legitimate pennant contender after a strong 1909 campaign. The Mackmen gave the three-time defending American League champion Detroit Tigers a run for their money – staying close until the final week of the regular season. Mack believes there is no reason that his club cannot build on last season and contend for the World Series. After a strong showing at spring training in Atlanta, Mack’s boys are out to prove that they are the cream of the crop in the American League.
Connie’s bunch is a healthy mix of young stars and seasoned veterans. A stellar starting lineup and a stacked bench. The lineup for today’s opener is as follows:
- Topsy Hartsel, LF
- Rube Oldring, CF
- Eddie Collins, 2B
- Frank Baker, 3B
- Harry Davis, 1B
- Danny Murphy, RF
- Jack Barry, SS
- Ira Thomas, C
- Eddie Plank, Chief Bender, or Jack Coombs, P
Mack still hasn’t publicly stated who will be his Opening Day starter. It’s likely to be Plank. If so, Thomas will do the catching. Michael “Doc” Powers, Plank’s personal catcher died tragically last April, so Thomas has taken on that duty. Thomas would also catch Bender this afternoon. Should Mack choose “Colby Jack” Coombs to toe the rubber, Paddy Livingston will get the nod behind the plate.
The Athletics will start the season with 21 men on their active roster. The pitching staff will consist of right-handed pitchers Jack Coombs, Chief Bender, Jimmy Dygert, and Cy Morgan. The left-handed variety will be Eddie Plank, Harry Krause, and Tommy Atkins. Ira Thomas, Paddy Livingston, and Jack Lapp will do the catching. Harry Davis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry, Frank Baker, Stuffy McInnis, and Morrie Rath will work the infield. Rube Oldring, Danny Murphy, Topsy Hartsel, Heinie Heitmuller, and Amos Strunk will patrol Shibe Park’s spacious outfield.
This being Washington, of course, plenty of dignitaries will be in attendance. The most prominent being Vice President James Sherman, who is expected to toss the ceremonial first ball to Walter Johnson. The weather forecast could not be more splendid – sunny skies and a high temperature approaching 70 degrees. First pitch is scheduled for 3:45 PM.
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