The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-06
DICCERS WIN
THE FIRST One
Finish Ahead of Mans field
by 9 to 2 Score. llysi
errors ARE PLENTIFUL
.--- .
Digger Hitting One of the
Redeeming Features
Lewis Unsteady and Zmich Stops
the Tigers-Cy Freeman is
Pounded Hard.
errors ARE PLENTIFUL
CBy R " .sAwHILL.)

Il
strenuous endeavors, the Tigers could
not break away from that haunting
opening day hoodoo and the Diggers
of Marion succeeded in taking the
game by 8 to score, yesterday
afternoon. Mansfield had several
chances to win out but after few
timely hits had appeared upon the
scene, the one that would have sewed
up the contest was not In evidente.
Last year Marion also proved a
hoodoo as an opening day attraction
but in a different way. Then the
Tigers and the Diggers made three
trips to League Park in three days,
expecting each day to pull the lid
off of the season of 1908, but too
much moisture sent the Diggers away
without having the honor of send
ing the Tigers down to defeat. 1t
mattered little, however, as Newark
proved amply capable of filing all
needed qualifications and the first
game of the season went into the
l.. column by 8 to 2 score.
The Diggers yesterday demonstrat-
ed that as hoodoo artists they could
send them all back to the brush (no
extra charge, and with the weather
assuming a natural attitude, they
managed to defeat the home favor
ties, although their narrow margin OF
two runs looked infinitely small on
several occasions. AS the game pro-
gressed, It assumed larger and larger
proportions until finally 1t loomed
up bigger than the new grand stand.
This Waterloo affair on each sue
cessive opening day Is becoming
monotonous, but probably year
hence the pursuing hoodoo will be
sent flying backward to the elevated
and unshorn underbrush.
After having placed on display
within the past week every brand OF
weather known to the meteorological
bureau at Washington, d. c., and a
few side varieties as chasers, liter
ally, the man behind this climatic
arrangement showed up for the view
Of the admiring fans an entirely new
article which richly deserves the
classification OF ideal. Either the
wind bag had been emptied and this
weather director was forced to allow
affairs to take their course.
When the day dawned with condi-
tions of the best it was feared that
rain would appear just at the right
time to spoil the game. Remember
ing that the weather lately had out
distanced a chemaleon as a rapid
disguiser, there was some ground for
this fear.
"A more perfect day could not have
been desired. There was just the
right temperature to put both the
players and the rooters at their best.
The rioters were at their best but
the players weren't.
The few initiatory services were
dispensed with In short order, much
to the gratlfication of the big crowd.
After the customary band concert
and parade of the players down Main
street, every route led to the ball
park. At the grounds, Mayor Brown
delivered a short address, delivered
the first ball and the festivities were
on.
In his address Mayor Brown drew
an auspicious inference from the
ideal weather conditions, predicted
that baseball in Mansfield this year
would have just as favorable year.
He stated that after n stormy ses-
sion OF three years, baseball in Mans
field appeared to be In a more favor
able condition than at any THE pre-
yious. die said that even II the
Tigers failed to win the pennant that
the fans would feel assured that they
had put up the best fight they could.
Uhe Mayor without any prelim-
mary warming up, outside OF his few
remarks went into the pitchers box
and managed to make a very credit
able crack at the plate. The ball
cut the northern corner. Later in
the game when Freeman seemed in
Imminent danger of cutting his shoe
srings, some thoughtful fans called
for the Mayor to again hurI the pill
AS Indicated by the score the game
was a heavy hitting aifray with a
good deal Of weighty hitting, some
mediocre fielding and on interming-
ling of good and bad baseball, Both
beavers took turns at Initiating the
Wright brothers speciality and one
indulged In by Cy Freeman just long
enough and high enough to send
the Diggers away victorious,
AIilt "CyY Freeman, late Of the
Columbus "A. A. grade made his first
working appearance in a Tiger uni
form and by mixing up good pitch
ing with little safflon-hued variety
could not do better than allow Ma
rion to win the game. ODay sent
two of his hurting staff TO the
mound. and they just managed to
hold the fast coming Tigers TO few
enough runs to take the contest.
Cy Freeman, an elongated specimen