The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
nr DAMON EINYoN

New York October 14.-(Special. )-Chfis- tv Nathewson, greatest of his kind, held the Philadelphia Athletics, champions of the world, in the hollow of his mighty hand this afternoon and the Giants scored first blood in the worlds series. They won by narrow margin of to 1 after baseball battle that will live forever in the memory of the enormous throng which saw it.
 It was no easy victory. Great as was Mathewson, no less great was Albert Ben der, the Chippewa Indian, who opposed him. It was a struggle between two ot the most remarkable pitchers of their time and the fight was all the more extraordi- nary in that these same two men were the stars of their respective clans back in 1905 when the Giants and the Athletics first met for worlds series.
 For days and days the peerless Math- ewson has been preparing himself for this event and the result was seen today in his wonderful work at the Polo grounds.
 Just last spring they were discussing the question of whether or not the big fellow was all in. The Athletics Sol d fying start in the second inning, and the Giant following looked very glum, but the master hand of McGraw soon showed and the speed that he had been develop ing all year finally brought home the vic- tory.
 Clean hitting gave the Athletics their single run in the second. Then the score was tied in the fourth when the Wonder- ful Eddie Collins fumbled, Snodsrass giv- ing great exhibition of running when he brought home the coveted run,
 Tn the seventh inning Big Chief Meyers the man whose possibilities in this series have been so often debated. smashed the left field wall with a two base hit. Josh Devore followed him with another two bagger, the Indian scoring from sec ond and the game was over so Tar as the Athletics chance of winning were con cerned.
 After that blow they seemed to fade away while the young Giants backed up their veteran pitcher with added en- thuslasm They proved their gameness. They had to come along from behind, and they came with a rush that swept away the opposition like ashes.
 They were undisnayed by the fact that they were facing the title holders and the club that had shown up Chicago last year. They came upon the field like lion cubs
 
 Mathewsor, Meyers and Devore-these are the names that stand out with great deal to be said for the stout hearted Fred Melkle, who saved the game by mar velous plunging play.
 It was a battle of pitching Titians throughout. Bender seemed to give way toward the end, while Matty closed laugh ing like a schoolboy. His sombre faced rdval seemed greatly perturbed during the closing innings.
 MeGraHs s men stole all the bases they went after, which was just two. They came from behind with a dogged deter mnation which stamps them a plucky team of the real McGraw school, and to them the result was never in doubt. Ben der bothered them with his crushing speed from s,aIt 10 finish. and had the young sters lighting bad balls all the way. But Meyers and Devore hit him when hits were needed.
 Mathewgor pitched a wary game. He quickly sized up his men and once he passed Ed1Ic Collins purposely in q tight hole to take a chance at Baker over 3S,000 people saw the game. The ciuts were so evenly matched in playing strength that there was no great advantage to be noted during the first few innings, but as the game progressed there was a different story to tell. The details: