The San Francisco call., 1904-03-25
Jimmy Whalen Scores the
Winning Run for
Uncle Henry.
Fans Cheer the Favorite
Players as They
Come to Bat.

When Umpire Jack Mccarthy shrily
cried Strike one on old George Van
HSltren yesterday afternoon. the fans
realized that the beloved season Of
baseball was here once more. The same
cid chorus of yells arose from the
bleachers, the same old crowd Was
gathered in the stands and everything
1T Recreation Park looked natural
2 once more.
The old tradition made good again.
just as il has done for years past. San
Francisco won the first game Of the
season, won il by the hair-raising
score Of TO o. 1t was the best cur
tafn-raiser that ever happened here,
for there was nothing but baseball ii
il from the start
Under an azure blue sky the season
was ushered in. Everything looked
promising, even the home team. More
rEan 1000 fans withstOod the biting
winds. and, although they were cold
in body, their enthusiasm was worked
up when San Francisco scored, and
after that time their interest never
Jagged.
No procession nor other demonstra-
ton marked the ushering in of the sea-
son Of 1904 There was no preliminary
skirmishes, but as soon as the time for
action arrived Joe Copeland, the "hu
man megaDhone," strutted proudly out
into the center OF the lot, and. removing
his bonnet, told those present that
Hughes and Whalen would oppose
each other in the box, Blankenship and
Leahy behind the bat and that Jack
Mccarthy would call EN- when they
came over
The stands and bleachers resounded
with ring Of real enthusiasm when
that veteran Of many a diamond battle.
George Van Haltren, walked up TO the
plate and got ready to line out the
first one that sailed up. The old man
responded with a doff Of his cap and
later by driving the sphere right into
the mitts OF Claude Schmeer.
When Seattle had been retired in the
first inning and ii came time for the
home players to take a turn with -th.
bat, the crowd yelled and did all kinds
OF happy stunts. AS the players ad-
vanced 10 the bat. looking like a fash
ion plates in the new white suits Uncle
bought them, each was given a hand
and encouraged TO hit the bali a mile.
IT was a game that was worth the
price. For five innings everything tha.
came along was smartly smothered by
she 6elders and not a run showed. San
Francisco swelxe from its lethsrgy dur
ing a hot miX-up. in the sixth inning
Jimmy Whalen was sent in with the
only run OF the game and for the time
being he was a real hero.
WS1crOn, the new centerfielder whom
Uncle imported from Canada. made ar
impression a foot deep with the fans
by the way he connected with the
leather. Three times straight did he
shoot the ball safely over ti1e%heads
Of the infielders. Each hit was free
from flaw and as clean cut as ever a
ballplayer tore off.
Tommy Leahy made an error, but Il
was such slight and measley one that
no one noticed il and besides the run
ner was out for turning the wrong way
Al the first bag. Every native on the
team played ball and the nine sur
prised the knowing ones.
Whslen and Hughes twirled as
though they would never have another
chance 10 display their ability in the
obOx. II was even up and take your
pick all the time. Hughes lost his
game by issuing a base on balls to
Whalen, the weakest batter on the
home lineup An error came along
shortly sfterward, helping some.
Old Van Haltren was the heetest OF
foot Of the entire layout. In one inning
De beat out a hunt to first base and
e then stole second and third without
turning a hair. Third Baseman Dele
hanty and ShortstoDs Hall AMI
Schmeer did some clever work IN the
field, causing the multitude to rise and
cry out with glee several times.
The story Of the undcing Of the Seat
tie team is one Of hard luck. Hughes