The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-28
NEW YORK DEFEATS
 THE COAL BARONS Local Team in Bad Physical
 Shape and 0utclassed CHICAGO CLUB HERE TODAY Mathewson and Mceinnity Did Great Work In the Box and Campbell and Clarke Made Excellent Showing.
 Brown as Steady as Clock.
CHICAGO CLUB HERE TODAY

It is bad beginning that makes good inning. and It may be that he who laughs last laughs best" At any rate the New York Giants, under the leadership of Muggsy McGraw, took the Coal Barons into camp yesterday by a score of to 1. and many enthusiastic fans who had hopes of beating the big leaguers went away disappointed.
 The Birmingham club showed a sad lack of practice. and the stiffness of early work still hung to some of the men who are expected to prove stars. Jimmy O'Brien at third has not fully recovered from his hospital experience, and very ugly crick in his neck hampered his play ing badly He threw with difficulty, ano he had some trouble in getting at fast ground balls His physical condition was known to but few in the grandstand and consequently some unkind criticisms were heard. This to a certain extent wa: due to disappointment and some of tho fans forgot that Birmingham with two days practice was playing Nationa league team of stars who had been hard at work for more than two weeks. Tax ing these handicaps into consideration the Coal Barons made a very creditable showing, and as Manager o'Brien says, such bumps as they got yesterday will do them good.
 Chicago Comes Today.
 The famous White Sox team of Chicago (American league) will be the attraction this afternoon and the cranks will prob- ably see much better performance on the part of the local players.
 Joe Leighton showed up well at second yesterday, and his hitting was a feature of the game Out of four times up he nailed two clean, hard drives, one off Mathewson and the other off McGinnity. He lacks the steadiness of Lawier, but in time will make a great player,
 Duffy's work in center field was of the phenomenal order, and a one-hand catch of long line drive woke up the bleach- CTS. He Is a gem of the first water, and though he failed to connec1 safely with the ball he has made himself solid with the baseball public Cavender, by lack of practice, mlsiudged two flies in right field, and this figured materially in the run-getting by New York.
 Campbell and Clarke both did excellent work in the box and with the exception of one inning the New Workers had a hard time landing on the ball
 Brown Was Steady.
 orIx- ha taaf m beside the two pitchers, who proved to be in excellent condition. Though he had one passed ball 1t was hard chance and his work was as steady as a clock, His throwing arm was with him and the way he whipped one down to first spread wave of delight over the entire grounds. In addition to his catching. Brown cut a clean hard one down the left foul line for two bases. scoring the first hard rap off of Mathewson.
 Mcconnell. the big first baseman. handled himself in great style and though he only got one safe hit he cracked an- other one at Babb that would have made many a shortstop tremble.
 Mcguire was a little lame in running. but his work at short was of the high order He will prove one of the best inflielders in the league
 
 was very well pleased with the work of his team. Of course the boys are little stiff and sore and O'Brien Is especially in bad physical shape. These games are purely for practice and are played for the purpose of finding the weak spots in our team. In week or ten .ays we can get a line on the men and, though we are not boosting, the public can rest as- sured when the season opens Birmingham will be in the running. Such bumps as we got today will do the boys a world of good and 1t tends to take the coneeit out of young players.
 The Game.
 The game opened up with Matheyson in the box for New York and Duffy at the bat. 4 rapid strike-out followed, and Leighton came up with a line drive over first base for a single This drew a shout from the bleaehers, but quick outs by Cavender and O'Brien retired the side, and nobody scored. On hits by Browne and Mertes, New York scored one run in the first inning In the second tied 1t on Browns two-bae- ger and passed ball by Warner. Things rocked along uneasily until the sixth in- ming. when the New Workers jumped on Clarke good and hard and rapped ont five clean hits netting as many runs This In addition to base on balls and a single In the third inning netted Me Graws men seven runs, and Birmng- ham was never able to cross the plate again.
 Mathewson turned himself loose from the start, and the work of the famous pitcher was greatly enjoyed by the fans. McGinnity came on in the fifth inning and his work was fully as good, if not better. than the great "Matty." By the way. Mathewson is now on his bridal