New-York tribune., 1912-04-20
Matty. Murray and Merkle Do
Deeds of Baseball ValOr at
Polo Grounds.
SUPERBAS THE VICTIMS
Crowd Fails to Storm the Roomy
Stadium, but Those on Hand
Enjoy a Fast and
Snappy Game.


ton Park, Brooklyn, on April IL, when the /
pennant race began was conspicuous ny /
its absence. The monster stadium under !
the lee of Coogan's Bluff which will seat !
forty thousand persons, was hardly half
full. and the glamour and excitement OF /
an opening day game were lacking. But the
Giants won in clean cut fashion and there /
was enough enthusiasm to indicate that /
the National League champions hold I
warm place in the hearts of the fans
The score was 6 10 Q and it is important /
TO relate that the Brooklyn Superbas, who /
won two out of three games from the |
Giants across the bridge last week. were |
the victims. AS 1t happened, they made
the same number Of hits-eleven-and the
same number Of errors-three-as did Nc
Graw's men, but runs are the things that
count, and in runs they were four shy
Of tieing the score. They worked hard ana
started two or three promising looking raj
lies, but Matty was always equal to the
call, and showed his amazing skill when II
was most needed in a way 10 satisfy the |
majority OF those present that he is still
'7king OF em ALL" II was not the number
OF hits, but the way they were paTcelled !
out that made all the difference IN the |
world between victory and defeat. 1t may
be said in passing that Matty gave only
one base on balls. and this little oversight
did not come until two men were out in the
ninth inning.
This in a measure tells of Mathewson's
part of a game that was interesting and
lively from end to end. but the deeds OF
Murray and Merkle must be recorded. The
right fielder of the New York team set the
crowd shouting for full three minutes
on two occasions by remarkable throws,
which cut down one runner at the plate and
another at third base and which put an
end 10 vigorous ASSAULTS that might have
been productive Of runs Fred Merkle also
brought the crowd outstanding by mighty
drive to the fence in deep left centre, on
which he raced around the bases for a
home run. 1t was one of the longest and
cleanest hits seen in many a day, and ex-
cept for the fence. there is telling how
far the ball would have travelled. 1t is sell
dom that home run is made at the Polo
Grounds. except when the ball goes into
one Of the stands, which made MerlSles
performance the more notable.
Nap Rucker lasted only one inning in the
box for Brooklyn, and in that time al
lowed three hits, including Merkles home
run. Silent John" Hummel batted for him .
in Brooklyns half of the second inning, /
in the hope of continuing a rally which re-
suited in one run, and would have been /
worth more with any pitcher except Matty !
on the firing line. Schardt took Fuckers |
place, and was hit rather freely when hits
counted most His team mates were a bit :
unsteady in the field, but, on the whole, .
they backed him up with excellent support, ,
DAILY, in particular, making three pretty .
catches in left field, one Of which was Of
the sensational order.
Everything conspired against big crowd !
and the usual enthusiasm Of an opening 7.
day The gloom resulting from the harrow
ing disaster TO the Titanic had its effect,
to say nothing of the postponement from /
Thursday because Of the miniature deluge,
and the weather itself which was as chilly {
as November, as blusterly as March anu
as lowering as April 1t was not surpris-
ing, then. that yawnIng spaces Of empty
seats could be seen here and there IN grand
stand and bleachers.
The Catholic Protectory band was On
hand and did its best TO lven up the pro-
ceedings Police Commissioner Waldo also
was present, in the absence Of Mayor Cay
nor, to make the presentation speech when
Matty received an automobile from the
fans of the city and TO throw oul the
everybody missed.
John j. McGraw was one other that made
his presence felt. He has no love for Fin
neran, the umpire and showed 1t in wildly
objecting to two close decisions Finneran
showed that he shared McGraws feelings
by first ordering the little Napoleon to the
bench and then to the clubhouse. McGraw
also was conspicuous before the game,
ha
floral horseshoe twice the height of him
self.
1t may be said in passing that the fans
sided with McGraw and against Finneran
IN two or three OF the latters decisions, as
the howls of derision that went up plainly
indicated.
Larry Doyle. captain Of the Giants, was
added to the hospital list yesterday He
was limping from an accident in Boston
and Joined Fletcher on the bench. The alb
sence Of these two players left quite a hole
in the infield. but McGraw sent Shafer to
second base and little Groh TO shortstop.
The last named made one or two plays
which showed why he is still with the team
and why he is likely to stick
The crowd cheered when Matty took his
place in the box and Police Commissioner
Waldo threw out the first ball 1t cheered
again when Herzog shot a grounder from
Moran's bat TO Merkle for the first out
Daubert then flied to Shafer and while
Smiths infeld hit pulled Herzog out Of
position for a throw, he died trying to
xea. .-Sopd base.
The Giants made a good beginning in
their half, scoring three runs on two sim
giles. an error by Daubert and Merkles
mighty drive for four bases. Devore
scratched hit as a starter took second |
on q wild throw and third when Daubert
dropped Stark's throw Of Shafers ground
er. The last named stole second and both |
runners scored. after Snodgrass struck out,
when Red Murray hammered a single to |
centre field. The New York right fielder |
was caught stealing second, but Merkle |
stepped UP and drove the ball to the fence |
In deep left centre for a clean home run |
Herzog made the third out on a grounder !
to Stark.
Matty had to dig his way out OF a deep |
hole I'm the second inning. and did so at the |
expense Of only one run. Northen and Daily |
Spened with clean hits, and the former |
Scored when Herzog ran I'm TO snap up a |
weak tap by Smith and missed the ball. |
DAILY was forced at third on Stark's bunt |
TO Matty, but big Six was still in diff |
euties, with two runners bases and only |
one out, Erwin perished at first by the |
way of Shafer and Merkle, while Hum |
mel, who batted for Rucker. could not get |
the ball beyond Matty.
with two out in New York's half |
Mathewson singled and Devore doubled to
,af, 1atd but hotb xyera left when Cbafar |