The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-24
BARONS HIT BALL ALMOST AT WILL New Workers Have Hard Job
 Landing Victory WAS BEAUTIFUL CON TEST Locals Secured Ten Hits Off the Big League Twlrlers, While the
 Giants Had to Be Satisfied
 With Half Dozen.
WAS BEAUTIFUL CON TEST

In the presence of nearly two thous- and baseball cranks in fine fettle, Muggsy McGraw and his posse of New York Giants ran up against the strongest snag yesterday they are likely to encounter be- fore the opening game in Gotham. The score was New York 5; Birmingham g.
 The crowd had assembled as a tribute to the movement to erect a statue of Vulcan at the St. Louis exposition to represent the Birmingham district and the entire proceeds went to a fund being raised for that purpose, but that is not the real story.
 outbatted and outplayed at several points the big leaguers got frightfnl scare and according to all well regulated dope sheets should have been beaten. An unfortunate error at a critical time, how ever, and a lemon hued decision by Um- pire Wood gave them the lead and the stiff armed men who have just got in the game for Slagtown could not over come the handicap O'Brien's cluster of colts fought their big opponents to standstill and whacked the ball into the daises at all stages of the game. The Barons put the timber to the ball good and hard and when the dust had settled it was discovered they had made ten clean hits to the big fellows six It was not very comforting performance to John T. Brush who occupied a seat in the grand stand but the big mogul of the National league had to stand for It.
 Receipts About $75o.
 Incidentally 1t might be well to say that the receipts of yesterdays game so gen. erously donated by the local management and MT. McGraw netted the Vulcan fund something like $75O It is impossible to give the exact amount as the tickets sold in town have not been counted.
 1 Sis Hopkins and Bobby Triton did themselves proud and pitched beautiful ball notwithstanding Charley horses, glass arms and other inirmities which come during the days of book beer and spring poetry Each of them pitched four in- nngs and each allowed three hits. If these two lads can keep up this work they can set their slippers under the Birming- ham bench whenever they so desire.
 McGinnity the Iron Man, worked some pretty curves for the Giants, but the O Brienites soon became familiar with what was going on and tore off hits in great big juicy slices. Duffy, Millerck and Alexander each ripped out a two- bagger and then dropped in a few sin gles for lagniappe. Dad Vaughan failed to lay up against good one and in the hit column he Is not. He was given great ovation as he went to the plate and In the future he promises to have his name mentioned in that column which count in the baseball guide.
 Scored First Inning.
 In the first inning Duffy opened up with fierce drive to left field fence for two bags. Smith and Vaughan were unable to deliver the package called for, but Pat Millerick had 1t up his sleeve and damned a drive into left field for two bases and Duffy scampered home.
 On Bresnahan's single, McCann's three bagger and a hot grounder New York sent two men across the rubber and Birmingham had the short end of the score. On a hit, two stolen bases and an error they landed another in the fourth and still another in the sixth.
 With the score to 1 against them the Coal Barons got real busy in the eighth and there was great consternation in Slagtown. The highest peaks of Mount Slag trembled from the rattle of musketry and the rooter was truly in his glory.
 Something Doing.
 Tamsett opened up with hot one through Gilbert and Wagner was hit by pitched ball. Mcconnell then walked and the bases were full with nobody out. Triton cracked a sharp grounder into Dahlen and Tamsett scored though Mcconnell was thrown out at second. Gilbert then whipped the ball over Me Cann's head, in attempting to make double, and Wagner scored. With Trit- ton on second Duffy laced out a beauty to left field but Triton was held on third. Billy Smith lifted a high fly to right and the ball was thrown to the plate Duffy made a dash for second on the play and Bowerman tried to catch him. On the throw Triton started home