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amead17 · 09-15-2025, 11:42 AM

OPENING DAY AWAITS — AMERICANS AND PIRATES STILL TEAMS TO BEAT

By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times
Additional reporting by Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times

April 14th, 1903

The long winter is past, the chatter of trades and the business of drafts behind us, and at last the glorious season of base ball is upon us once more. Tomorrow the clubs of the American and National Leagues take the field for the first contests of 1903, and with it the hopes of eight cities in each circuit will be renewed.

The consensus among experts and scribes alike is that the balance of power remains much as it has been: in the American League, the Boston Americans, with their mighty staff of pitchers led by Cy Young and Ted Lewis, appear again the class of the field, while in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates, champions in ’01 and ’02, look little diminished as they seek a third straight pennant.

The forecasters predict Boston to pace the American League with 87 victories, their bats led by Freddie Parent and Buck Freeman, and their arms once again the envy of the game. Close on their heels, however, are the newly christened New York Highlanders, who boast a powerful trio of batsmen in Mike Donlin, Cy Seymour, and Roger Bresnahan. Detroit, too, is expected to push, with Jimmy Barrett in the outfield and Jack Cronin promising steady work upon the slab.

In the National League, the Pirates’ strength is formidable. Honus Wagner remains the finest batsman in either league, while Fred Clarke and Ginger Beaumont give Pittsburgh a triumvirate of power and science at the plate. Their pitching, led by Rube Waddell and Jesse Tannehill, is deep and strong. Cincinnati and Brooklyn are thought to be the nearest challengers, with Boston and Chicago close behind.

Yet the season is never played on paper, and predictions, as every fan knows, are often torn to shreds before the summer heat.

From the players themselves came cautious words:

“They call us the favorites,” said Cy Young of Boston, “but a pennant is won one inning at a time. We shall need to prove it again from the first ball to the last.”

In Pittsburgh, Honus Wagner remarked, “We are proud of what we have done, but the third flag will not be handed to us. Every club will be gunning for the Pirates now.”

New York’s Mike Donlin, brimming with confidence, declared, “With the bats we have, the Highlanders can stand with any club. We aim to make a fight of it from the start.”

Jimmy Barrett of Detroit, for his part, offered, “The Tigers are not spoken of as champions, but we know what we have. If our pitchers hold, we will surprise many.”

Thus the stage is set. Tomorrow the nation’s pastime begins anew, and for six full months, fortunes will rise and fall with each crack of the bat and twist of the curve. The champions of October are unknown, but the promise of the season is now at hand.

09-15-2025, 11:42 AM	#88
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 8,919	Preseason predictions OPENING DAY AWAITS — AMERICANS AND PIRATES STILL TEAMS TO BEAT By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times Additional reporting by Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times April 14th, 1903 The long winter is past, the chatter of trades and the business of drafts behind us, and at last the glorious season of base ball is upon us once more. Tomorrow the clubs of the American and National Leagues take the field for the first contests of 1903, and with it the hopes of eight cities in each circuit will be renewed. The consensus among experts and scribes alike is that the balance of power remains much as it has been: in the American League, the Boston Americans, with their mighty staff of pitchers led by Cy Young and Ted Lewis, appear again the class of the field, while in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates, champions in ’01 and ’02, look little diminished as they seek a third straight pennant. The forecasters predict Boston to pace the American League with 87 victories, their bats led by Freddie Parent and Buck Freeman, and their arms once again the envy of the game. Close on their heels, however, are the newly christened New York Highlanders, who boast a powerful trio of batsmen in Mike Donlin, Cy Seymour, and Roger Bresnahan. Detroit, too, is expected to push, with Jimmy Barrett in the outfield and Jack Cronin promising steady work upon the slab. In the National League, the Pirates’ strength is formidable. Honus Wagner remains the finest batsman in either league, while Fred Clarke and Ginger Beaumont give Pittsburgh a triumvirate of power and science at the plate. Their pitching, led by Rube Waddell and Jesse Tannehill, is deep and strong. Cincinnati and Brooklyn are thought to be the nearest challengers, with Boston and Chicago close behind. Yet the season is never played on paper, and predictions, as every fan knows, are often torn to shreds before the summer heat. From the players themselves came cautious words: “They call us the favorites,” said Cy Young of Boston, “but a pennant is won one inning at a time. We shall need to prove it again from the first ball to the last.” In Pittsburgh, Honus Wagner remarked, “We are proud of what we have done, but the third flag will not be handed to us. Every club will be gunning for the Pirates now.” New York’s Mike Donlin, brimming with confidence, declared, “With the bats we have, the Highlanders can stand with any club. We aim to make a fight of it from the start.” Jimmy Barrett of Detroit, for his part, offered, “The Tigers are not spoken of as champions, but we know what we have. If our pitchers hold, we will surprise many.” Thus the stage is set. Tomorrow the nation’s pastime begins anew, and for six full months, fortunes will rise and fall with each crack of the bat and twist of the curve. The champions of October are unknown, but the promise of the season is now at hand.