The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-17
SEASON
 OPENS THURSDAY Birmingham Signs MulIaney of
 Three League PLAYS FIRST TEMPORARILY pr. Dedman Says Harry Vaughan Can Not Get In Game for Three Weeks.
 Second Game With Ma
 con Was Called Off.
PLAYS FIRST TEMPORARILY

The curtain raising bouts are at last ended and the true and faithful will have just four more days of impatienee before the flag falls in Slagtown and another baseball season will have begun.
 A steady downpour of cold penetrating rain knocked the Macon club out of game and a good big roll of expense money yesterday afternoon and hundreds of rooters stood on the street corners looking as longingly for a glimpse of the sun as for a base hit when the bases are full and the score is close. There was nothing doing however, and with looks or resignation the denlzens of Slagtowh decided to wait for the opening or the season to hear the rattle of the WILLOW The Macon team left this morning Tor Atlanta where they play two more games before going home to begin the South Atlantic season.
 The Southern league season or lso4 opens in the east next Thursday at Birming- ham and Atlanta. The western clubs open at New Orleans and Memphis on Satur- day.
 Nashville Opens Here.
 As has been the custom for two sea sons Nashville opens in Birmingham anu the old time rivarly of these two clubs will be revived Nashville has always defeated Birmingham the opening game but the color of the Coal Baron uni- forms has been changed this season ana this may bring about q reversal of lnek' In fact Birmingham has never won put one opening game since the organization of the present Southern league. This game was won from Selma in 1901
 Many of the rooters incline to supersti- ton on this opening game, and many or them attribute it to the old blue uniforms. To avoid such danger as this the league passed a law forcing all home clubs to play in white and Birmingham will De free from the bad omen To further avoid such a catastrophe the Birmingham man agement has selected gray as a color Tor road uniforms. In other words, there IS TO more danger of Birmingham being the victim of superstition or bad luck.
 Baseball circles of repute regard the present Birmingham team as the strongest ever gathered to defend the rights ana privileges of Slagtown. There seems to pe' no question about the ability of the team to hit In the last six games played the Coal Barons have scored 63 runs, Whlch is an average of nearly eleven runs to the game This is regarded as some run hing and some hitting. During this par ting matinee with the Cotton States ana South Atlantic leaguers the Birminghams cracked out just an even ~ hits.
 MuIlaney Signed.
 Dr. Dedman announced yesteroay Una. it would probably be three weeks or more before Harry Vaughn would be apie big husky fellow veru much Of the same possible weakness at the start Manager O Brien has signed a heavy hitting hrst baseman to work until Harry's hand Is i'm shane to play. The new man is none other than Mullaney, the boy Who mas caused so much strife between Columpus' Ohio. and Bloomington, ILL While these two telms were fighting over hlm' DIT mingham stepped in and landed the plum.
 Last year Mullaney batted .Z94 III the "Three r. league and flelded .9S1. He IS a l,ig bns,xv fellow very much of the sarce huild as Uanley When Harry gets in the came Mullaney will be held on account of his hitting ability. The necessity or another man was brought about through inc lameness of Matthews arm and the need of Mllerick behind the pat
 Birmingham wired Mulaney yesterday for inAormation as to hls release and
 
 free and sent his terms which were promptly accepted by telegraph The deal was closed and transportation was telepraphed If there Is no hitch In the negotiations Mulaney should be nero Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
 Coal Barons Are Strong.
 The Coal Barons in their last few games have shown some remarkable team work on their return from the cotton States local fandom hardly recognizeo them. They keep the game full Of gin ger and pepper at all times ana run pases like deers. They have acquired the art of hitting when hits count and there IS no reason why they should not hnish al least as good as third. It IS believed lnal Birmingham has as good chance TOT the pennant as any club in the league
 The team which will line up against Nashville on Thursday will probably De as follows Mnnehan, pitcher Millerick' catcher; Mullaney, first base Lynch' second base: Tamsett. shortstop; O Brien' third base: Hanley. left held' Duny ao,+ar fold. Smith, right held.