The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
GAMES TODAY.
Birmingham at Memphis.


Mr.. Iipp's beautiful curves and perfect
control assisted by homo run drive by
Frank Smith that will go down to pos
terity as the most remarkable hit ever
made on the Birmingham grounds, put
Shreveport out of the Coal Barons' class
Yesterday afternoon and gave the fans
one inch further up the percentage lad
der.
Smiths home run was probably the
record-breaking hit of the Southern
League, and when the big pitcher-third
baseman t~otted In home with Halter and
LaRocque ahead of him there was wild
scene of excitement, and coins of all sizes
ratified on the ground around the players
bench. When Smith had counted up this
token of appreciation he was richer by
So. rs. Tickled over his wonderful feat,
he walked to the press box and asked the
reporters to thank the people of Biz
mingham for their generosity. There were
two men on bases when he cracked out
the terrific drive, and 1t melted three
runs, cincnlng the game for Birmingham.
The fail was fully thirty feet higher than
the fence when it went over. The distance
is about $50 yards and never before in
the history of baseball in Birmingham
has a ball been batted over left field
fence.
Lpp Did Magnificent Work.
Lipp pitched magnificent game and
would have scored a shut-out but for two
unfortunate errors in the ninth inning.
al for
long fly in right field and the ball struck
his hand, but he was going so fast he
could not hold it. LaRocque then made
a desperate run for WEEK.-MRS. grounder
and stopped it, but threw wild to first,
allowing the man on third to make
Shreveport's only score. The two players
should be commended for these errors
rather than censured, as the chances
were desperate and showed LaRocque
and Longley to have the proper spirit In
| going after them.
For the first three innings the pitchers
were invinclble ane only two men reached
first base In the fourth however, Bir-
mingham got busy, and after Longley
had gone out Halter hit drive into left
field For two bags. LaRocque followed
with a single over short. but Haller could
go no further than third. Daddy stole sec
d
grounder to Spencer, who stopped it, but
was unable to recover in time to throw
Haller out at the plate. Moss then struck
out and retired the side.
Two More Runs.
Shreveport was still unable to find Lipp
and the Coal Barons went for cinch
Sorber flew out to left field on drive
that at first looked safe, and Blue follow
i -. aR.A
base. Shreveport thought this ball foul
but Goodenough insisted that 1t was fair
Lipp drove a hot one to Spencer but was
thrown out at first. Blue going to third
Billie Smith hit safe to center, scoring
Blue. He then stole second and scored
on Longley's hit to right. Halter flew
out to Hulseman and the inning ended
with two more runs for the Coal Barons.
Things then rocked along until the
eighth inning neither side being able to
reach third. In the eighth Halter came
up first and laced out a beautiful liner
to left field. LaRocque followed with a
duplicate into center, Halter going to
third. Frank Smith was next up and the
crowd gave him the glad hand. Two
balls were called and the big pitcher
waited for LaRoque to ''go down" to
second. The next one was pretty he
could not resist the temptation and doub
limb up TO gather all MS strength t0Beth-
he threw his whole weight against
the bat
A Significant Crack.
There was n significant crack and the
Clarke Griffith shot over the left field
er's head. Hulseman ran back ten or
fifteen yards but 1t awaited him nothing
as the ball Cleared the fence thirty feet
Ito tho good and the party on the bases
trotted home while the grandstand and
bleachers broke into oardemonium. Men
rushed out over the field yelling like mad
men and dimes, n.clSels. quarters and
dollars showered upon the big third base
man. The next three men We're unable TO
add anything TO the score and the side
retired.
In the ninth Shreveport made her only
score. Pauilng, first up, hit a long fly
which Longley made a brilliant dash for
but failed to hold it, the runner going to
second on the I1uff Woikart was up next
and hit red hot grounder to second base,
Daddy made q hard run and slapped down
tho hit, but was unable to recover, and
threw wild to first. allowing Pauiing to
score. Huseman. Mcintyre and Mont
soraery went out In one. two, three order
and it was all over.
The Official Score.
Birmingham AB R Ell Pc A d
w. Smith, CT -. 3 0