The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
By REUBEN A. LEWIS


 H AVING wildly, 5000 followers of N the bold Barons witnessed the A \ most thrilling encounter staged
 on Redwood field during the ar duous 1914 campaign, and saw Bir- mingham supplant Mobile in second place in the Southern league race. Awkward Jim Gudger baffled the bold Barons at every turn after the first in- niDgs, while the Gulls claimed two runs off Crafty Omar Hargrove. The ninth inning dawned. With Gudger twirling in invincible form, the out look menaced cherished hopes of over- hauling the desperate Gulls, who were fighting like mad men for the decision.
 Extraordinary measures were essayed to obviate the impending disaster-the loss of the struggle and chance for the pennant. Chubby Carlton Moles- worth, whose endangering cudgeI had pitches covering he assumed his squatting posture in days of yOre, was yanl<ed from the ranks of the discarsis ] and dispatched to offset the Mobile ! handicap. A mighty ovation met him as his trusty willow landed true to aim but Perry captured his grounder and hurled him out nt first base. A defeat seemed imminent, for as Gud- ger glanced nervousiy at the plate. he smiled as Stewart approached the plat ter.
 On three previous trials, the Birming ham right fielder had retired crestfallen before his smoke and curves. A strike out, slow grounder and a fly to the outfield constituted his travail. But the clean-up batsman endeared himself to the followers of the plucky Barons by mak- ing it possible to down Mobile AS Stew art trod into the marksmen's box Charlie Schmidt assumed a squatting posture and braced himself for the toss. Gudger wound up smoothly and served strike from deceptive angle and gloried in- wardly at his craftiness, for one lap had been recorded on the second out Then came ball. which Stewart edged from as it shot over the plate. Venturing to register second strike to place the batsman in the hole. Gudger miscalcu- lated. The speedy Baron outfielder drew back his brawny arm. poised and swung
 
 from the ash with sharp detonation and hurtled on a line to centerfield. Lord, upon the primal impulse, glanced upward. ducked his head and sped backward in vain effort to retrieve the wallop. With amazing speed. Lord retraced his steps Stewart surveyed the field as he rounded first base on his decisive hit, snatched his cap from his head. rounded his path for dash around the circuit and passed l second base in maze. As he rounded second Lord reached the fiagpoe and whipped back his arm to peg. Just as | Stewart neared third, Perry received Lords quick return and poised for a peg | to the plate
 Divining a death in case fate was haz- arded, Stewart halted at third and was | gratifled as Perry's peg to Schmidt was i perfect and forecast sure death As I the stands raved wild in maudlin glee, I Clyde Mcbride, reputed to be the most dangerous batsman in the Southern l league in times of stress, approached the plate. Sprinkling a cloud of dust on the handle of his bludgeon, the Baron | sunfielder rested, gazing intently at Gud- ger. who seemed confident still Knowing McBrides fondness of a first strike in 1 the groove, Gudger heaved a first ball | that carried away from the plate and
 low. His second toss was ilI-fated, but | Mcbride chopped at 1t with reckless | swing and drove it towards center field.
 The ball. on the second bound, just in front of Lords eager hands. hopped slight ly to the left. It seemed as if Lord ] would capture it easily. but it crashed against his shns and ricocheted back to- | ward the flagstaff. With speed seldom dis | played. Mcbride continued his mad race | A r~x.Itr <>( kI. .Ix. | ing stands swelled with each twinkle of | his fleeting feet until it seemed as though l the roof would swell from its stays un- | der the lusty whoops of the 5000 thrilled | spectators. Lord recovered as hastily as | possible, but before he could forward the stray pellet to O'Dell Mcbride slid deftly | away from the third sacker and hooked | the base in safety
 | The attendance went mad. The band s 1 effort to render Dixie was silenced by the thunderous tones of the crowd. being heard slightly only as the cheering lulled. l Tex Covington's appearance at the plate l was greeted with enthusiasm seldom
 evinced by a Birmingham crowd The
 big first sacker responded with the win
 ming crash on Gudger's first offering. He | drove it just over shortstop, but it seemed l as If the blow were futile as Miller ad- vanced inward at top speed But just
 before the pellet fell, the Gull outficlder saw HIS eHprtn were III Vain- cneck"d his sprint and trapped the ball. Mcbride,
 lowering between third and home, saw the success of his mates blow and sprinted over the rubber with the run that gave Birmingham chance for the pennant.
 Eddie Mcdonald loomed up as the hero of the conflict afield. In the ninth inning, l-had not the Baron third sacker effected
 a phenomenal fielding feat scarcely ever equaled. Mobile would have captured the encounter. The pluck of the Barons was
 severely tested. Lord opened the inning that gave birth 10 the series of thrills by