Evening star., 1909-04-23
PEACHES AND CREAM
WAS CHARLEY SMITH
HighIanders Open Season at
Home by Trimming the
Nationals.

There was a very recherche time up at
American League Park yesterday when
the Yankees opened their local baseball
season, and incidentally beat the Wash
ington team by score of to l. tying
the Detroit Tigers. who lost for first
place in the race for the championship.
For a while. what with the flags and the
crowd and the Old Guard Band turning
]. sse the numbers that just make your
blood tingle to get up and be hero
yourself. the game was kind of forgot
ten. That was when the rejuvenated
Yankees were warming up and the crowd
was busy whstling and singing and greet
ing old friends on the team and making
the acquaintances of the new talent. But
after Tim Hurst said. play BALI.
there was some contest and all the pre-
liminary frils were forgotten.
Tom" Foley. the sheriff. was the key
stone TO the game After he had posed
for his picture he supplied the initial
velocity to the first ball
The assembage filled the stands COM
fortably and there was no splll-over dele
CATION on the field. Frank Farrell had
dressed his park up like a race morse on
derby day and there were no end or
flags Every nation had pennant flap
ping i'm the breeze on the top of the
grandstand or on the fence while around
the boxes were festooned numerous BAN
ners o. a patriotic nature.
Except for being a trifie soft here and
there the field was in splendid shape. The
scene on the hilltop was an attractive one
anu the whole gave the impression of
holiday occasion. The crowd laughed and
lroIicked and sang if on picnic. The
hard rain of Wednesday hadn't seemed to
damage any of the decorations except pos
sibly the uniting, which looked a bit wilt
ed and droopy.
Fans Come Early.
The fans began to come early and femi
nine pulchr:tude was in evidence in un-
usually large chunks. An innovation was
introduced when soloist uncorked sew
eral bits of choice melody which have evil
IDENTIFY been bottled up in his system for
some time. They were of an old vintage.
but the crowd and the band Joined in and
big pieces of music floated out over the
Hudson
Then came the base ball. Smith and
Jack Quinn were pitted against each
other. and the big fellow had it on his
puzzle to the visitors throughout and only
had one inning where he was at all shaky
the eighth. In that frame the Wash
ingtons gathered their only run.
A new practice system is in vogue in
the American League. The umpires adorn
the benches. and the visiting team is al
lowed twenty minutes lin which to work
out. while the home men only have ten.
The Nationals started out in the game
as II they were going to do business right
away. Clymer beat out a bunt toward
third stole second, and made third when
Ganley sacrificed. Kleinow cut him off
the cushion a moment later. though. by
pretty throw. Unglaub flied to Laporte.
The Highlanders went out In order in
their half of the first. but Mcbride robbed
Willie Keeler of a double by beautiful
jump and one-hand catch that elected the
applause Of the multitude. All the Yam
KEGS received an individual hand as they
went to bat in the first two rounds, and
this seemed to embarrass them SO that
they forgot what they were meant to do.
Then the third inning came along. Mr..
Smith cut the ropes and went up, and be-
fore he landed five runs had crossed the
platter. He used his famous Salome ball
TO a considerable extent in this act-so
named because 1t has nothing on it. Also
he could have given his fast one a handi-
cap and beaten it to the plate himself.
The Highlanders took to his delivery in
great shape.
Jack" knight started the merriment
by outstripping a bunt toward third that
Smith fumbled. but which would have
been hit anyway il cleanly fielded.
kleinow couldn't seem to stay with his
bat. On the first strike he threw his
club clear out to the shortstop. On the
next he threw his bat at the ball and
dropped little Texas Lacquer behind
third base that netted two sacks.
Quinn Hits Well.
Quinn showed himself to be a hitter of
substance. as we'll as a finger by plug
ging out pretty well as timely
single to right. scoring Knight. BY way