April 16, 1935 - Opening Day

CINCINNATI - For the first time in history, there will be a total of 16, not eight, big league games played throughout the United States, as the International League and Pacific Coast League begin their lives as Major Leagues today.

Firsts include the first big-league games on the West Coast, as Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland and Oakland host. Also, big-league ball comes to Canada, as Toronto and Montreal both have honors.

The traditional lid-lifter sees the Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Kerrins Field. Cincinnati will send Paul Derringer, 15-21 last season, to the mound to face surprise Pirates starter Cy Blanton, who lost his only start last season. The Oklahoma native figures big in Bucs' manager Pie Traynor's plans for the upcoming season. There are big expectations for Pittsburgh this season, as they are the consensus favorites to capture the NL flag for 1935.

Montreal and San Francisco are the teams to beat with the Continentals. All teams in the league underwent roster overhauls as players under contract with Major League teams were returned and others signed to fill in the gaps. While the caliber of play isn't expected to be the same as the Americans and Nationals this season, in a few years' time the Continentals should be on a par with the senior loops.

1935 pre-season predictions:

National League
1. Pittsburgh
2. Chicago
3. Cincinnati
4. St. Louis
5. Brooklyn
6. Philadelphia
7. Boston
8. New York

American League
1. New York
2. Detroit
3. Boston
4. Cleveland
5. Philadelphia
6. Washington
7. Chicago
8. St. Louis

International League
1. Montreal
2. Buffalo
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Syracuse
6. Rochester
7. Newark
8. Jersey City

Pacific Coast League
1. San Francisco
2. Seattle
3. Oakland
4. Mission
5. Portland
6. Los Angeles
7. Sacramento
8. San Diego