New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
THE RECORDS.

More than twenty thousand people saw the OPEN
ing Of the League championship season at Wash
inron Park Brooklyn yesterday afternoon The
contest was remarkable exhibition in many ways,
and the battle Will live long in the memory Of the
thousands Of excited people who were present at
the first meeting of the year between two OF the
strongest teams that ever tossed a horsehide-
covered ball about the green diamond field. The
champions won the day. but only after an eleven
inning battle repete with exciting and tnril1ng
features. The score was 10 O.
The throng reminded those OF the old Washington
Park Of several years ago. before the players de-
cded to organize a baseball Brotherhood and to
Try TO conduct the business themselves. Certainly
no,such attendance has been seen before in this
neisbborhood in many day. After the game the
MANAGEMENT announced that the actual attendance
was 2ols7. The grandstand was decorated with
flags and bunting. and this with the throng, the
music and the general enthusiasm completed
scene of lively interest and warmth such as is sell
dom seen here except at of the leading sport
ing contests of the year
The aspect of the Enclosure mas oeen chaheeu
materially since last year, and the seating ca
paeity mas been increased TO fifteen thousand Inc
stands now extend from First TO Third ST. ana
from Third to Fourth ave. The stands are deep
and seat several thousand more than can be ac-
commodated at the Polo Grounds. But, large as
the capacity was. ii was not SUFFICIENT yesterday
As early as O'Clock, when the concert by the sd
make its way toward Gowsnus Trolley-cars and
elevated cars were damned. and half an hour be-
fore the game 10 start not seat was vacant
EXCEPT in one or TWO of the private boxes. 1t was
q weu-behaved, well-dressed and expectant throns
who cheered everything that happened pertaining
10 the National game in any way.
When the two teams appeared, at O'CLOCK lor
their accustomed march across the field mighty
roar arose from the throng OF baseball admirers
fairly shaking the rafters in the grandstand From
this point for more than two hours ana nan
every movement OF the green-diamond knights was
closely watched. The musicians continued 10 play
lively tunes even between the innings stopping the
instant the pitcher prepared 10 deliver the oal
the batsman. Hugh Mclaughlin performed the
ceremony Of tossing the new ball upon the field as
q signal for hostlities begin The veteran poll
tician threw the ball as if he had played the game
himself in his younger days.
HOW THE GAME WAS PLAYED.
The players Of each team knew that It would be
battle indeed when 1t announced that Ken
nedy and Nichols were to be the pitchers. Il was
known that Roaring Bill had never been in be-
ter physical condition than he was yesterday.
Nichols is always At for fierce battle at mo-
ment's notice There are those who frown at a l
TO game. arguing that such contest IS a mere
pitchers con est. with practically no hitting and
consequently little fine fielding. The game yester
day. however combined all of the stratagem and
brilliant features which 10 toward making the
popular pastme all that il IS. There was not a
dull minute from the time the umpire called play
until the last man had been put ont In the eleventh
inning There strategic pitching and plenty
of il. but there also many brilliant fielding
plays. where apparent basehit after basehit was
cut Of by some nmble fielder and turned into a
put-out. There were long throws from the out
field nippng base-runners by the closest OF mar
gins they slid for the bases Daring base run
ring was attempted whenever the opportunity pre-
rsed i-calf h,,ts ha OH md in 0al1
ers were sailing the ball across the diamond with
accuracy not expected early in the season.
Better games may have been played. but II so they
hardly remain in the memory OF the average en-
thusiast
GAME OF OLD LIKE IT
Veterans Will recall a similar game played at the
old Polo Ground now Manhattan Field between
the New-York and Boston teams-and singularly
enough Nichols played then also. II was In 1880
Nichols and Rusie were the pitchers, and the clever
tvirlers pitching with the speed OF giants and
the effectiveness of wizards Inning after inning
was played until the thirteenth arrived Then the
Bostons were retired IN order and the New-York
team went 10 the bat for the last time. The sun
had gone down behind coogan's Bluff when Mike"
Herman came 20 the bat with FIRE IN his eye and
lis trusy wagon tongue in his hard. Nichols put
straight. speedy one over the plate and Herman
met the globe fairly and squsrely. The ball sailed
over the centre field fence for home run. and
yohn B. Day had il guided and. as far as ia
known. has II yet. II was mighty whaek-a
brilliant ending Of memorable battle
Il differed from yesterdays battle only IN mat
ne pitchers did not wholly decide the game In
the contest In Brooklyn the play was so even Tor
yen innings that 1t was the toss OF coin as 10
which Team would win. Inning after inning was
playtd vita neither side scoring run IN sew
era Innings the players had been retired ~ oroer
linen tho l.cky eleventh arrived. the usually iu,N
seventh having passed without incident. In me
ninth inning Jennings mad made two errors ana
ms coupled with a base balls and the fact tnat
hennedy seemed TO be slowly but surely losing
ZONE Of The terrible speed with which ne had been
onyering the ball. made the onlookers All but give
- nope Hamilton, however. was retTed az sec
On. enc and Kelly made clever catch OF Dunys long
"s- ana the inning was over, without result
ihosH who had been watching Jennngss throws
s ere hopeful that the game would end before that
1sseT shorfstOp had much more throwing 10 90
S.nugs II one % the few kings OF that position,
~. his throwing wing IS decidedly rusty just
az re arched the ball over 20 first with SLOW
~, rSsiei sort Of jerk. and lmpersonated ne
"a IN man with remarkable exaetness lie
koen AZ vouoed thus in the early spring, but ss
nu,.lss W.. nc summer sun gets OF that arm tne
eA..,. :. nin0sf, the glass meits and Jenninss
'' 'ne ball across the diamond with the speed