New-York tribune., 1908-04-15

Wee Willie Keeler never played better ball, and
that is saying great deal. He saved the game
in the tenth inning. With out, Oldring got his
base when he hit by Doyle Smith, the Ath-
letic catcher doubled into the crowd. There was
a man third and another on second base When
Carter came 10 bat He hit the ball away out
into right field. 1t looked as if the game was
over and the Yankees beaten, but Keeler got under
the ball and shot it back to the plate in time to
retire the runner. 1t was a wonderful throw and
the crowd showed its appreciation in noisy and
enthusiastic way. There were other plays almost
as good, but OF these later,
American League Park never had a crowd to
equal the one which gathered there yesterday. An
hour before the time for the game to begin every
seat occupied, and still the stream flowed on
without interruption After the bleachers were
filed the crowd ripped down the barrier in front
Of the left field stands and poured on to the dia-
mond. Then the right field gates had TO be opened
Finally, the entire playing field was surrounded.
the spectators standing fifteen deep
Topsy Hartsell, the Philadelphia left fielder, got
in the way of wild pitch by Joe Lake during the
preliminary practice and his broken
After it had been patched up with adhesive plas-
ter he was able to continue playing. The injury
did not seem TO affect his batting
The festivities began about 2:30 o'clock, when
the two teams paraded across the field. led by the
Old Guard Band. After the band had played The
Star Spangled Banner" the spectators settled back
in their seats to watch the men up. Every
few minutes the crowd would jump up TO welcome
some one. First came Mayor Mcclellan, who later
tossed out the ball which opened the season.
Then there was big Bill" Devery, who
reached over and shook hands with the Mayor.
which seemed TO please the crowd. Politicians.
Jurists Wall Street brokers, sporting men and
representatives of all walks of life bumped ell
bows and enjoyed themselves. It was a typical
New York baseball crowd, and one TO be in
no other city except this enc.
This year the opening day decorations were much
more elaborate than usual. Streamers stretched
from the top Of the grand stand TO the field and
American flags were clustered about every box and
In fact, bunting flags waved from every possible
place. The weather was chilly, but not too cold
to make the game dsagreeable to watch.
AT $40 Mayor Mcclellan threw out the ball. Tim
Hurst beloved Play BALI" and the season OF
1908 Joe Doyle Clark Griffith's Sc
lection for the pitchers box and Jack Kleinow for
the backstop work. For Connie Mack's team Nick
Carter, newcomer, went in the box and Smith, an
old Southern League player, did the catching.
There little choose between the work Of
Doyle and Carter. although the former a little
steader. Both men pitched grand ball for this
season Of the year.
AS already told, not reached home until
the second half of the twelfth inning. Few of the
players got as far the third station, and there
plenty of sizzling plays to keep interest from
tagging. kid" Eberfeld distinguished himself in
the sixth inning. He playing well over toward
third base, when Jimmy Collins drove the ball to-
ward second base The Kid" went after it on a dead
run, scOoped it up in his gloved hand and shot
it to first in fautless style. retiring the run
ner. minute later he caught fly back of
third base.
| Harry Niles, the new Yankee second basenan.
made the only error credited TO his team-a wild
| throw to Chase, but otherwise his work was first
| class. He had eight chances and accepted seven
! of them Jake Stahl. the left fielder didn I
have thing in the fielding line Charley,
Hemphil, the former st. Louis player who now
covers centre field, got two flies, one of them far
| back in the crowd