Show Coast Coast League Predicts Great Season By ROBERT BENNYHOFF LOS ANGELES Jan I 5 UP UP- UP Predicting people will be baseball hungry when the 1943 season opens President W. W C. C Tuttle of the Pacific Coast league Tuesday said Coast club owners have al already already already al- al ready put the approaching season through the war wringer Major curtailment agreed upon at an Informal but secret meeting held coincident with the recent major major major ma ma- jor league conclave at Chicago was shortening of the 1943 playing season by at least three weeks Club owners he disclosed agreed to open the 1943 campaign April 20 three weeks later than last year Closing date and number of games remain to be ironed out at meeting of club owners here February February February Feb Feb- 15 Tuttle pointed out the delay In opening would mean a schedule of games compared with last years year's even if it no nomore nomore nomore more are pared from the season A heavy drain by the armed services upon Coast league players play play- ers didn't worry Norry Tuttle He pointed point point- ed out a majority of oL outstanding players last year were men in their middle thirties or early forties with families Ted famIlies Ted Norbert Johnny Moore foore Sam Gibson Hal Turpin Dick Barrett Ray Prim and Wally Hebert The league president also saw saw extensive possibilities for development development development develop develop- ment of ot players under 18 IB recalling Bobby Doerr's upswing during depression depression depression de de- de- de days People cant can't venture very far nowadays because of gas rationIng rationIng rationing ration- ration Ing Tuttle said What place is nearer than the ball park He saw the absence of major league eague teams on the Pacific coast this spring for exhibition games as another reason for expecting a good season Despite the ban on night games increased taxes and costs and gas rationing Tuttle said owners of ot every Pacific Coast league nine were eager to operate The 1943 race will be closer and much stronger Tuttle opined because because because be be- cause Portland has been strengthened strength strength- ened by new management new ownership and new players Baseball he declared is a great American institution and Should not be allowed to grow rusty For civilians it creates a wholesome wholesome whole whole- some diversion For service men ment it t provides eagerly awaited news Sports sections of t newspapers are like ike letters from home to the boys in n the services |