The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-07
PRISON LEAGUE
STARTS SEASON
Not a Feature of Outside Base
ball" Missing in Games Be-
tween Convicts.

Atlanta, Ga, April 6.-Attended by
all tho conventional ceremonies OF one
of the big leagues. the baseball sea-
son of 1913 was inausurated ut the
Federal prison here yesterday. There
was n parade through the prison
grounds behind the prison band, a
march across the field and the rails
Ing OF the championship pennant OF
1912. Tho fng fisht last season ut
the prison again proved that there is
something In name for the pcnnant
was won by Giants" team COM
posed of tho strong armed men of the
stone-cuttinE shop.
The new season started with eight
teams. and to-day there was double
bender. in which the Tigers" beat the
Cubs" IL TO 5, and in which the
champion Giants" walloped the
Crackers by n score OF to :. The
Giants had as their pitcher a negro
prisoner. known rs Georgia" but
more often referred TO by the pris-
oners as BLACK Matty' This pitcher
won fifteen straight games last sea-
son. but unlike many stars OF the
baseball world. was not a hold OUT
this year. his Contract still having
several years 10 run. In addition to
tho teams competing in to-day's
double bin the prison league mem
pirates" the Climbers" and the
"Hustlers."
The sceno about the baseball da-
Inond at the prison to-day was one
unique In tho history Of the national
game. All OF the more than 500 pris-
oners had been given the freedom of
the grounds No restraints whatever
were placed upon them. The real
fans" gathered As Close TO the dia-
lnond as they could and rooted" with
all the vim and enthusiasm of their
prototypes ION the outside"
The umpires, selected from among
the prisoners. werI freely and frank
y denounced rs robbers" and once
one Of the "umpires" was surrounded
by an angry group of protesting play
crs when he called Giant out at
second on close decision. In fact
there was not q feature OF outside
baseball missing I'm the prison con-
tests, while some OF the plays pulled
OF would have done credit to major
league team in midsenson form.
Taking tho place of President or
Mayor, Warden Meyer was called upon
10 pitch the first bail. He was suf-
ferinG from a glass arm, however, and
the task was turned over to Deputy
Warden Hawk. The deputy tried a
Splitter" but when the ball took a
downshoot and hit the ground ten feet
from the pitchers box. the prisoners
howlcd with Glee. Later, when a line
foul toppled over an unsupported
guard, they howlcd again. The mer
rinent was akin to that of regular
league game when the umpire gets hit
on the shin.
The partisanship among the fans was
intense at times.
Take him out and put in S." yelled
ono enthusiast when the Giants" were
hammering Cracker pitcher.
Come on YOU old moonshincr."
yelled another to Tiger" pitcher
In the first game.
Two former ball players We're the OPP
posing catchers in the second game.
Both handled themselves with the
grace and confidence of big league ma
terial, and one OF them, known as "l6,''
caught without oreastplate or mask.
AS each baseball city has It's one
leading rootcr, so the Federal prison
boasts OF bcllwether among the
fans" lie is n fat darky. called "Old
Sam" and he is 'lifer."
This fact. however, did not deter
Sam from calling upon the fat head"
second baseman OF the Giants" to
knock a homer. DO il fat, and I'll
promised Sam
The flag raising was an impressive
ceremony. The baseball diamond is in
the shadows OF the great concrete walls
surrounding the prison. the entire field
surrounding the most modern construc-
non IN me way OF concrete conStruc-
About tho nagpolc were grouped all
Of the ball players. surrounded by the
other prisoners. The flag was be-
slowed upon the Giants" with very
pretty little speech from n prisoner
man prominent in the news OF the
cnDntry al orc tipne hut whose identity.
so far as the public is concerned, IS
hidden for the time being behind I,
plumber. AS the red, white and blue
pennant. properly lettered as the cham
pionship toke.l' of the prisou league
iluttered to..thG.bFeeze, tho prison band
played America. Caps were dotted
and three lusty cheers beat In great
sound waves against the concrete bars
10 the outer world.