Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-04-09
PRISON LEAGUE
IS ON ITS WAY
RATTLE FOR PENNANT BEUINDs
WALLS or ATLANTA PRISON
Is STATED.
PUT IN NUMBER &C.
Great Enthusiasm Prevails; Flag
Raising imprcssiNc-Don Their
Hats 10 america"

ATLANTA, Ga, April S.-Attend-
ed by all the conventional ceremonies
Of one of the big leagues. the base.
ball season was inaugurated at the
federal prison here today. There
was parade through the prison
grounds behind the prison band. a
march across the field and the rails
ing of the championship pennant of
1912.
The flag fight last season at the
prison again proved that there is
something in name, for the pen
nant was won by the Giants. a
team composed Of the strong armed
men of the stone cutting shop.
The new season started with eight
teams and today there was double
header in which the Tigers" beat
the Cubs, II to 3, and in which
the champion Giants" walloped the
Crackers" to /. The Giants had
as their pitcher a negro prisoner,
known as Georgia. but more often
referred to by the prisoners as Black
Matty.' This pitcher won 10 straight
games last season, but unlike many
stars of the baseball, world, was not
u "hold-out this year, this "con-
tract stll having several years to
run. In addition to the teams com
pctIng in todays double bill, the
prison league membership includes
THE Athletics" the Pirates" the
climbers" and the "Hust.ers."
The scene about the baseball dia-
mond at the prison today was one
unique in the history of the national
game.
No Restraints ON Them.
All of the more than 500 prisoners
had been given the freedom Of the
grounds. No restraints whatever
were placed upon them. The UNI
pires, selected from among the pris-
oners, were freely and frankly de
nounced as robbers" and once one
of the jumps was surrounded by
an angry mob of protesting PLAYERS
when he cal.cd Giant out at sec
|.
there was not a feature Of the out
side baseball missing in the prison
contests, while some Of the plays
pulled off would have done credit to
a major league team in midesason
form
Taking the place of the president
or mayor, Warden Meyer was called
upon to pitch the first ball. He was
suffering from a glass arm however.
and the task was turned over to dep
uty Warden Hawk.
The partisanship among the fans
was intense at times.
Take him out and put in Co."
yelled one enthusiast when the
Giants were hammering a Crack
err pitcher.
"Nou Old Moonshiner."
Come on, YOU old moonshiner."
yelled another to a Tiger" pitcher
in the first game.
Two former BAN payers were the
opposing catchers in the second
game. Both handled themselves with
the grace and confidence Of big lea
que material. and one of them
known as "16" caught without breast
plate or mask.
The flag raising was an impress
rive ceremony. The baseball dia-
mond is in the shadows Of the great
concrete walls surrounding the pris-
on, the entire field suggesting the
most modern construction In the way
OF concrete stadiums. About the
flagpole were grouped all Of the ball
players. surrounded by the other
prisoners. The flag was bestowed
upon the Giants" with very pretty
little speech from prisoner, a man
prominent in the news of the country
at one time, but wohse Identity. go
far as the public is concerned. is hid
den for the time being behind a
number. AS the red. white and blue
pennant, properly lettered as the
championship token of the prison
league, fluttered to the breeze, the
prison band played America. Caps
were doffcd and three lusty cheers
beat in great sound waves against
the concrete barriers to the outer
world.