The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-07
COAL BARONS PLAY
 BEAUTIFUL CAME 0Brien's Men Are Rapidly Get
 ting in Condition CLEVELAND, 3: B'HAM, 2 LaIoie, the Great Second Raseman, Was Unable to Play Yesterday, But Says He Will Probably Get
 In the Game Today.
CLEVELAND, 3: B'HAM, 2

The Coal Barons played the all-star aggregation from Cleveland close up to the mark yesterday and but for an un- fortunate wild throw to first in the eighth inning would probably have gotten off with the first victory of the season.
 It was the prettiest game of ball seen for many moons. and though the Bir- mingham team was beaten by score of to 2 not fan went away disappoint- ed with the work of his team. Every body expected the Bluebirds to wipe up the diamond with the local aggregation and the beautiful contest was indeed revelation. The Barons went at their work like frisky young colts and the infield work was as smooth as the tick of an observatory clock. Two double plays were chalked up against the visitors and both of them on difficult chances. In fact. everybody seemed to get in the game from the start and it was the kind of sport that makes the blood jingle In the veins of the true and tried rooter-
 Millerlck did some heavy work with the stick and his hitting figured in the run getting materially. Out of four times up he lined out three nice ones, and on his other chance he anchored safe at first on an error Duffy also cracked the ball hard, but played in bad luck as his line drives could not escape the fielders.
 Laloie Will Play Today.
 The great Napoleon Lajoie was unable to play and many of the fans were some what disappointed. The big fellow has lust recovered from an attack of pleuresy and contented himself with tossing a few balls around the diamond. He felt much better last night and says If the day Is warm and pretty he will play second base this afternoon. The big Frenchman Is captain of the Cleveland team, and as he is to be their mainstay this summer he Is compelled to be very careful about exposing himself to cold until he has fully recovered. He had the baseball fever last night, however, and said if he felt no worse today he would certainly don a glove and incidentally see if he could secure a few hits off the Birming- ham twirlers. MT. Lajoie Is very un- communicative fellow, and his usual answer to questions is either yes or "naw." He took occasion to say yester- day afternoon that Birmingham had one of the best minor league teams he had seen and that they had no reason to fear anyone around these parts. You can't expect those fellows to play good ball this cold weather" said Lajoie; and in two more weeks you will see a wonderful l improvement"
 How 1t Happened.
 The run getting yesterday came about something on the order of this: In the second inning Flick was hit by pitched ball and went to first. McCarty flied out to Duffy, but Gouchnauer and Bemis cracked the ball square on the nose and Flick scored. After this both teams worked hard to cross the plate, but 1t was a continual see-saw with two double l plays adding to the brilliancy of the Bir- mingham fielding. One of these was made on a long fly to Cavender and an attempt of Bradley to make third on the out. Cavender whipped the ball from right field to Jimmy O'Brien and the play was completed with neatness and dispatch. The next was on fast double by Lawler. Mcguire and Mcconnell of a grounder.
 Things rocked along wearily until the