Читать книгу No Money, No Beer, No Pennants. The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Great Depression онлайн

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On February 19, 1928, the Indians pitchers and coaches boarded their train for the trip to New Orleans. Everybody in the group was eager to once again play ball. No doubt they all were motivated to show their best stuff to the new management. The reporters and photographers for the city’s three daily newspapers were falling all over themselves to board the train and escape the frigid Cleveland winter. The sportswriters and the camera guys for the Plain Dealer, News, and Press had been going south with the team for many years. This was a chance to get some exclusive interviews and talk baseball in a relaxed setting. It had to be one of the great perks of the job.

Upon arrival the squad headed for the Hotel Roosevelt, one of the finest places to stay in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the boys had arrived at the conclusion of Mardi Gras and the celebrants were still in their suites sleeping off all the fun. Everybody gathered in the lobby, waiting for rooms to open up. Local reporters sat down with manager Peckinpaugh to see what he thought about the Indians’ chances for the season. Peck told the writers, “I’m not going to make any predictions because we can’t estimate our strength until Uhle and Levsen show whether they have come back. We are certainly stronger than we were last year if only because the team’s spirit is bound to be better.” Peck would go on to say the Yankees and Philadelphia were the class of the league with Washington right behind. Possibly Cleveland could move up to fourth place. The new manager was being conservative, but he knew the American League as well as anyone else if not better. He wanted fans to be hopeful but not expect a contending team right out of the gate.