The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-10
The BIossomine Season.


 nings the odds were that the Barons had it cinched
 The Blossoming Season.
 Baseball was the topic of the day yester- day. The little boys talked about the pending struggle in the early morning, and until it grew late the fathers who saw the game discussed it.
 There was a parade through the streets of the city. The Barons were driven in carriages, followed by the Crackers out of the Gate City. There were other car riages bearing the league officials, among the number being William Kavanaugh, the Little Rock judge, who is president of this goodly company in the south. Presi- dent Baugh was there, as was President Dickerson of Atlanta. Another carriage carried the scribes of the city, the fel- lows with the pencils. Heading the pro cession was a brass band making music On each side, and to the rear, were hun dreds of urchins, all making merry shout ing and pointing to this or that renowned character who throws a spit ball, or has q penchant for shrewd base stealing. The music attracted heads to all the windows of the city, and business men slammed their ledgers and gazed indulgently. The season had come and everybody was pleased. There was many happy wave of the hand and many voices uplfted in shouting.
 About o'clock the procession turned towards the park where soon hundreds of fans were gathered. There was a cer- tain programme to be carried out Every one wanted to see the pennant go up.
 Harry Jones Complimentary.
 Harry Jones, the well known alderman from the Eight ward, and one of the most popular baseball fans of the city, was master of ceremonies. A platform was raised just to the front of the grand stand and thereon, after the players had marched to the strains of martial music the master stood. He bowed to the right and then to the left, finally addressing the ladies and gentlemen He referred to the fact that the season for the playing of baseball had come again. and that the day was to be signalzed by a game between the representatives of the greatest city in the world and of the next greatest. ]" He then introduced Judge Kavanaugh, styled the Arkansas gentleman, the best president of the best Class A league in the world" The cheers that greeted the remarks of MT. Jones could have been heard reverberating against the base of Red mountain. The fans were strenuous, and these were pleased with what he said
 Judge Kavanaugh discussed baseball. He referred to the game as the greatest sport, and the cleanest: the greatset be- cause it had the largest following, fol- lowing representing every class, every profession, every color. He was delighted to officially declare Birmingham the champion city, because the team that had won the pennant was evidently the best He wished the locals God speed in the beginning of the new race for new rag, and stepped to earth again followed by prolonged applause and a look of satisfaction that extended from one end of the field to the other.
 The Pennant Waves.
 After the address of the president the players, following the band. retired to the very bottom of center field and once there, grouped themselves about the flag pole About the players were hundreds of fans, league officials, newspaper men, the blind and the halt, the strong and the hearty. At a signal, the cord was stretched, and slowly the banner was lifted from earth. No sooner had the breeze touched it's silken bosom than it stretched it's full length, and spread abroad the fact as far as eye could see that champions are the Barons and great is Birmingham
 After the raising of the pennant, the players again followed the band to the grandstand and their feet touched the grass but lightly as the strains of Annie Laurie" and "Chippie Get Your Hair Cut moved the heart and pierced the ear. After reaching the grandstand the players were paraded to their respective benches, for there was yet another chap ter of the afternoons performance in which they were not to participate. Harry Jones again took the floor, and again his tono $ rang out. He announced the bat teries of the days game. Ward pitches for Birmingham, and Dickerson for At lanta."
 The Mayor Humorous.
 Mayor Ward was an ideal ball player in appearance He stepped lightly as all athletes should step with shoulders thrown back. and arms swinging freely by his side. It took close observer to see defiance brghtenng his right eye. He was pitcher in whom one would in- stantly place confidence. It did the timid fan, who feared for the result of the day, good to watch his fearless tread He reached the pitchers box, and as all good pitchers do. fitted his toe to the slab. Next, the Mayor removed his cap and placed it carefully on the ground. He stopped, and gathering within hiis init some grains of sand, poured them ginger ly over the face of the sphere.
 It did the fans good to see the pitcher confer with Catcher Lee Garvin. The Mayor then returned to the box, and after swinging his arm several times. in \ order that the glass might fall therefrom, H,e made his delivery. The ball sped on-