The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-02

/ IN TWO Dl tne pfeIIeSI games OF DdSe-
ball ever witnessed in the Southern
league. Birmingham suffered defeat in
one and played the Travellers to a stand
still In the other. tt aft rnoon game
was pretty enough when the score OF 2
to 1 is considered. but from a point of
science and remarkable fielding the
morning game will go down in records as
the greatest contest ever witnessed on
the southern diamond
For eleven innings Birmingham fought
with the visitors for victory but when
two hours OF the battle had passed and
no scores had been made, Umpire Keefe
decided to give the tired men a rest and
called the game. At that time the in
nings, hits and scores were even and as
the men had to play another game with
in three hours, Mr.. Keefe decided that
they had given the public a long enough
run for its money and called it a draw.
Eleven innings without a score or any
prospect of a score is the record of the
Southern league and is the first time
such game has been played IN a regu-
larly organized league anywhere In the
United States during the season of 1902
Wilhelm and DoIen.
Wilhelm and Dolan were in superb form
and Barons and Travellers alike were
moved down like chaff before their
cyclonic exhibition of pitching. Wilhelm
had almost perfect control while Dolan
was wild, but on the other hand Dolan
showed himself equal to the occasion
and when a run appeared in sight he
promptly sent the batters to the bench
and retired the side.
Several runners advanced as far as
third base only to be left there to die q
lonesome death, while some poor batter
was attempting to beat out an infeld
grounder.
On both sides the infelders knew no
such word as fail and to attempt to drive
ball through that enclosure was like
bucking against stone wall Everybody
was in the game from the start and
though the Coal Barons were badly
crippled they went in to win and came
near doing it. Frank Smith played short.
Osteen second and Campbell took Leidy s
place in left field.
At least six runners reached third base
during the great contest, but the hit that
was needed never came, and from the
time the first man went to bat in the
first inning 1t was a case of see-saw.
Second Game.
In the second game a few more runs
were made. but the game was neverthe-
less interesting. Long ere the time for
play ball had been called the grand
stand. bleachers and smoker had over
! flowed and down both foul lines almost
to the center field fence was stretched a
mass of humanity eager to cheer the
Coal Barons on to victory. 1t is estimated
by the gatekeepers that the crowd num-
bered at least 1000 persons, and among
| these was not an individual who did not
have a good word for the home team,
Notwithstanding its tail-end position.
| 1t was Frank Smiths time to pitch, but
as Reitz could not be In the game the
popular pitcher had to play at short. In
consequence Campbell went into the box
and pitched a magnificent game. He was
given good support and nine times out of
ten should have won the game.
But there was one thing the matter,
and that was a serious obstacle. man
by the name of Guese with a smile clear
across his German countenance went In
to serve the balls up to the Birmingham
batters and from the time Umpire Keefe
started the thing off he was an eni-ma.
Nobody could successfully land or him
when the time came and he alone is
accountable for Birminghams defeat
While the bases were full a pass by
Lynch let in Birmingham's only run
and there is no excuse for the defeat ex-
cept that Guese was a trifie too strong
for US.
Today the Little Rock visitors will
face either Frank Smith or Beaver and
they will find 1t a hard job hitting
either. Deaver has played in hard luck
lately but such things don't keep up a
life time. Mique Finn will probably put
up the famous Mr.. Watt or Mr.. ALLIE
mango to oppose the Barons.
The score follows: