New-York tribune., 1909-04-16

Harry Lumley. the new manager Of the Su-
perbas brought lively lot of players across the
bridge to open the National League baseball
season at the Polo Grounds in this city yester-
day, and turned what promised to be a love
feast for New York into day of rejoicing for
Brooklyn, after sensational thirteen-inning
battle. The score was 3 to o. and Lumley him
self started the batting rally in the fatal
thirteenth with a sashing drive to the fence in
centre field for three bases. which made victory
possible and which turned the great expecta-
tons Of the loyal followers of the Giants into
blasted hopes.
1t may not be fair to say that Leon Ames.
who pitched a rema rka BILE no-hit game for nine
innings, and brilliant for three more,
weakened under the strain, but the fact re-
mains that the Superbas suddenly solved what
had been most puzzling delivery. and by
punching four hits with q base on balls and an
error scored three runs, and made a fair start
in the for the pennant Wilhelm. who
pitched the fun game for Brooklyn. deserved
high praise for his wonderfully effective work.
He held the Giants down to three scattered hits
ono OF which came in the last half of the
thirteenth inning when the home team made a
brave but Intellectual effort 10 pull the game out
of the fire He was rather free at times with
bases balls. but he tightened up at critical
moments. and with practically perfect support
had the satisfaction of shutting out the team
that is picked to win the coveted piece Of bunt-
ing this year.
1t the opening game OF the season in
this city delayed from Wednesday on account
of what the fans pleased to call a food.
and some thirty thousand persons many
Of whom came over from Brooklyn. Judging
from the support the Superbas had in the
way of noise making. watched the struggle
inside the grounds. while another five thou
nd +ba of
Coogan's Bluff 1t crowd typical of
opening day baseball games, and even more
enthusiastic than usual. The huge stadium.
with its seating capacity doubled over a year
ago. presented remarkable appearance when
Richard Croker, once the chief in the Wigwam
of Tammany Hall, threw out the first ball
from a box in the upper tier of the grand
stand.
CROWD FILLS THE BIG STANDS.
black wall of cheering humanity COM
petely surrounded the freshly green playing
field, and look enough satisfy the
most pessimistic of the hold that the national
game has on the affections of the sport loving
public. Men and boys had the bleachers prac-
ticaly 10 themselves put the feminine fan"
much in evidence in the grandstand and
there the sombre wall of black relieved
by bright patches of color.
The sun burned its way through the clouds
that hung rather low and threatening in the
morning. and by > o'clock shining out
with brightness and warmth, if trying to
make up for the disappointments of Wednes-
day. A light breeze was hardly strong enough
to tighten out the flags the stand, while
the air was nvigorating without being too
sharp for comfort. The diamond. thanks to
the perfect system of drainage. showed little
affaC of ha 1i1ia at1Ira doll n
previous twenty-fo1r hours. and while hit
slow and soft in places in excellent con-
dition, all things considered.
The bleachers. back of first and third bases,
and the lower tier of the grandstand, were full
to overioWing two hours before the time for
the game to begin. The upper tier of the
grandstand. where the seats reserved, and
the big, stretch OF bleachers surrounding
the outfed filled more slowly but fill they did.
except for a few seats far out in centre field.
The early corners found plenty to amuse and
entertain and the time did not drag. Two
bands were hand, TO say nothing of i'm
glee club, there was lack of
popular airs. The players of both teams were
out early for batting practice, and the crowd
enjoyed the fun of cheering the old and
the they were recognized in stepping to
the plate.
At 3:30 O'Clock the bell rang for the Giants
TO begin their fielding practice and when they
ran out on the diamond clad in their white
suits and dark brown stockings and shot the
ball around in lively fashion the crowd found
more to cheer about. Tenney, the
popular first baseman. twisted his foo in reach
ing for wide throw, and Merkle took his place
for time, getting reception that proved that
the fans quite willing to forgive and for
get his fatal mistake in failing TO touch second
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