The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-05

Nashville at Montgomery
 Shreveport at New Orleans.
 Yesterday the Legislators and the Parons broke even in a morning and afternoon game at West End park
 The score of the morning game, in which the young ''phenom" Maxwell ana gallant Irwin Wilhelm were pitted against each other, was to l. with the Vlsitors on the big end of the tally The aitcr- noon game was taken with comparative ease by the Barons, the score being to Z' Ragan and Malarky were the opposing twirers.
 The games brought out the largest crowds in the history of Birmingham baseball. In the morning some 5OOO wildly cheering fanatics were seated and stand ing in every portion of the field. In the afternoon an ever moving, restless, seeth- ing mass of humanity numbering more than 7Oo0 souls, took possession or the grounds and rendered brilliant base ball an utter impossibllity. The feature of both games was the enormous at tendance. and the characteristic Of the attendance was the understandable anima- ton. the strenuous enthusiasm that held
 
 positive sway.
 Ground rules were adopted in the morn ing. In the afternoon the same rules obtained. but the great throng of people seriously handicapped the players, and there was little material benefit gained from the adoption of this agreement.
 Maxwell Starred.
 The mornings game was decidedly the better of the two. Young Maxwell the star of the Pretzel aggregation, and des- tined to become one of the greatest twirl- CTS of the day, had the Barons completely at his mercy and in spite of the fact that Wilhelm held the visitors to mar row margin throughout the struggle, the Pretzels drew the winning hand Max well gently set the locals down with two hits. The single tally was made as re- suit of an error on the part of Helne Busch.
 Wilhelm started the game badly, his spit-ball, when first attempted breaking in a most cratic and dangerous man ner When threatening holes were en- tered, however Wilhelm worked out with comparative ease, and his efforts elicited marked applause from the great bunch of spectators surrounding the field The winning. score at least. resulted from an error bys Shortstop Oyler. The first run was made by Houtz, after he reached second on a bad throw by Catcher Gar win, It is seen, therefore, that an error and a serious miscue. caused the loss of the game, in spite of the fact that if would have been utterly impossible for the Barons to win with Maxwell twirl- ing. in case no disastrous error occurred in his support
 Oyler was the fielding star of the morn ing game. The work of the shortstor was brilliant, indeed. and his spectac- ular performance caused cheer after cheeI to arise from the throats of the big bunch of Pretzel rooters seated In the grand stand Molesworth's fast work in the field was also feature.
 Players Handicapped.
 In the afternoon the attendance or the game was the largest in the history of this burg and. perhaps, the largest IT the history of southern baseball. This attendance caused a serious handicap tc present itself. and this handicap 1t is true worked more to the disadvantage of the Pretzels than the Barons.
 IL so happened that several of the Barons' drives, which would have re- suited in easy outs sunk Into the mass of humanity in right field, and placed runner after runner on second base al which station, the rules held him. only once did a Montgomery player turn this neat trick, while Birmingham succeeded In landing a ball in this spot severa times.
 The feature of the game was the heavy hitting of the Barons, the number oi doubles being large, and couple or three baegers, and probably home run was prevented by the existence of the rule which prevented a runner going further than second. This was notably true In terrific drives sailed to right held renee by Smith and Molesworth. the hit of the former galloping over the ground. and bounding to the topmost plank of the enclosure.
 First Baseman Meeks is credited with n home run. His drive sailed to right field and Umpire Rudderham thought that it went over the fence. This view was held too by many of the spectators, although now it is generally admitted that the ball simply fell against the fence, and should have resulted only in a double.
 Morning Game.
 When the players trotted out upon the green there arose from the vast audi ence a cheer that could have been heard in Bessemer, one which f1oated down Vll- lage creek and resounded over all the
 
 enthusiasm of the fans was destined to cut a great figure in the battle. The rooting was especially strenuous on ac- count of the presence of some five hun dred fans from Montgomery. who dio not fail to make their presence known.
 The day started bad for the locals, and Houtz. the first up having drawn a straight ball. due to the fact that he had received three bad ones, hit safe to center. Busch. next up, was felled on three strikes, his stick failing in each effort even to appro ach the blenders of the Baron twirler. Just at this moment however Houtz started for second and Garvin threw badly. Had this man been .outed" who can say but that Birming- ham would have taken both of the games. No sooner had HoutZ stationed himself on second, than "spit-ball'' broke er- radically and bounded over the head of the catcher. Houtz went to third. Schwartz was safe fielder's choice, but the effort to retire Houtz at the plate failed signally.
 When the first score was made, the en-