The San Francisco call., 1904-04-04
Defeats Fitzgerald ano
Clinches Claim
to Title.
BY Louis Levy.

Michael Egan of Jersey City can now
be hailed as the champion handball
player of the world, having clinched
his claim to the title by decisively de-
feating James Fitzgerald of this city,
who disputed his right to the laurels.
Egan and his rival completed their
series of games yesterday at the Olym-
pic Club. The attendance was not so
large as on the preceding Sunday, as
the ticket holders felt it was a fore
gone conclusion that Egan would cap
ture the remaining games.
Those who crowded the balconies en-
joyed some fast and brilliant playing.
They saw the heavily muscled Egan
smite the ball apparently with force
enough to drive it through the front
wall. They saw him display wonderful
strength and untiring resources in fast
rallies and they watched the Eastern
man prove his superiority over Fitz-
gerald in all but one department of the
game, and that was headwork. Fitz-
gerald proved the header player of the
pair. Had he possessed the necessary
stamina there is no doubt that he
would have given Egan a better con-
test.
his science amounted to little against
the fast ball Egan sent at him through
out the games. The local player killed
many balls and missed a great many
more. He tried hard tG keep the ball
just out of Egan's reach, but the cham
pion was always under it and when he
drove it to the front wall it travelled
with force to send it to the back wall.
Fitzgerald gave a clever exhibition of
killing" from the back wall. He sent
the ball low each time and Egan with
all his skill could not lay his big
'mitts" On the fast moving spheroid.
Egan played gentiemanly game, but
in his anxiety to get close to the ball
he would balk Fitzgerald. He always
ran in front of Fitzgerald as if he an
ticipated where the ball would land
and if Fitzgerald raised it out he would
catch it on the fly with either hand
and send it back to his opponent.
Egan's head collided with the ball in
the first game and he was dazed for a
minute. The fast shooting object bare
ly missed his right optic and had it
landed Egan would have probably re-
tired from the pastime at which he is
such an expert
Fitzgerald found fault with ex-
Alderman Dunnes coaching and called
him to task. The local man captured the
first game, after the hardest kind of a
struggle, and as they doffed their shirts
for greater comfort, Mr.. Dunno, who
was scoring, called to Egan to change
the ball. Fitzgerald lost his temper
and said: TT is not fair to coach him."
To which Mr.. Dunno replied: Il want
to say one word and that is, when
you went in you said you had a
right to select the ball and when he
went in he could toss with any ball
he selected L am interested in Mr..
Egan. / am the only gentleman here
with him."
IF 1 was in condition 1 could beat
him." called back Fitzgerald.
"Ill bet a thousand dollars you can't
beat him." replied Dunno.
Referee Hampton called game and
the two experts were at it again harder
than ever.
Preliminary to the big game Joseph
Condor of the Occidental Handbail
Club and Tom Leech of the ST. Ig-
natius Athletic Club outplayed Louis
Levy and Henry Cory. Each side took
a game and in the final Leech and
Condor played championship ball and
ran away from their opponents.
When Egan and Fitzgerald entered
the court they were given another
hearty greeting. After warming up.
game was called. Egan started out to
annex two games, but Fitzgerald
led at 10 to Is, and the excitement was
intense. BY series of hard serves,
clever kills and heady playing, Fitz-
gerald won the opening game. This
did not bother Egan. He simply began
sending the ball out as only he can
send it. Fitzgerald tried valiantly to
return the ball, but he missed with
frequency. Egan had many opportu-
mites to kill" but he never availed
himself. seemingly satisfied to drive
ii back with incredible speed. Egan
took the second game by score of
21-11.
Fitzgerald was up in the air in the
third game He was tired and winded
and his returns were weak. Egan had
enough steam for two men and was
without mercy. He was there TO give
Fitzgerald a drubbing and he did so.
Fitzgerald was lucky enough to score
four points, whereas the champion
kept scoring until Il points were Sc
cured and the referee declared him the
victor.
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