The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-06

and another Hippo rejoicing in the Il
 These two giants fought it out all the way and although Ruth allowed six hits to the invaders and they were conse- ouently making confident claims to the worlds championship tonight.
 The effect of the war was everywhere apparent, especially in the temper of the crowd, which, largely local, saw the home team drop the first game without protest. There was no cheering dur mig the contest. nor was there anything like the usual umpire batting.
 Today's attendance was 1924. Rain caused postponement of the first game scheduled for yesterday. Today the downpour had ceased and the grounds were completely dry. The sun shown fit fully and there was stiff, chilly breeze from the north No seats were occupied in the upper tier of the second floor of the grandstand and -he right section Of the stand was practically empty. In the lefI section there were many vacant chairs. A number of boxes also were without occupants, and in the bleachers the three lower rows all around the field were vacant
 ONLY RABID FANS WERE THERE
 War taxes, the high cost of living, cur tailed railroad service, advanced prlces, the weather, the curtailed season and over all the shadow of the war were said to account for the indifference of the public
 The dyed-in- the-wool fans were there, but not the general public.
 The left field bleacher space, usually given over to the virtues of certain chewing gum, admonished the crowd to keep the glow in Old Glory and the right field space commanded Buy War saw ings Stamps and do it now.
 At intervals six airplanes from the war exposition on the lake front reminded the spectators that baseball is not an essen tlal industry. Even the brass band was cut down to a war basis ot lz pleces, and it attracted most attention when VI played "The Star-Spangled Banner. On this occasion players and spectators stood respectfully, Fred Thomas aHohs them. Thomas, third baseman for Bos- ion. was in the Red Sox uniform by grace of a 14-day furlough from the Great Lakes naval training station.
 SCOTT MAKES GREAT STOP
 The enchanted spear by Scott of yaughns hot grounder in the seventh inning provided the one spectacular fea- ture of the contest. It was beautlt'i 1,lav but at the time the Cubs were mot t,reataninr The whole nine innings sailed produce a hit for extra bases, nor any real test of speed for the out fielders. ,..
 George Whiteman, Boston utlitty ontfielder. starred in the outtield Tor Boston. and doubtless prevented the T,nbs from scoring. He was also the onlv man for the invaders to inake two hits. one of which figured ln bos- tons lone but victorious tally.
 yaughn's momentary weakness Tn the fourth inning cost him the game Shean, the first man up for Boston, walked when the giant Cub twlrier attempted to work the corners on Um- pire O'Day. Strunk, who folloWeu' flied to Vaughn on an attempted sac rifice. and Whiteman delivered hls second blow, sending Shean 10 secohd. Paskerts quick return prevented the Red Sox second baseman from taking third McInnis' single to left. scored Shean. while Whiteman moved up to second. Scott popped to Deal and Whiteman scrambled back to the key stone sack just in time to beat the vsub third basemans peg to second Vaughn mixed them to, Thomas, Whof swung heavily at three wide ones This ended the inning for Boston and the scoring also.
 RUTH IN FORM
 The premier brand of Ruth's pitch ing was the chief factor in the Cub defeat, although the superb support rendered by his teammates assisted in repulsing the Cub attack. Had the Nationals been able to bunch their blows on the Boston pitcher, the game would have been over in the first, when Mann singled after two were out and took third on Paskerts dou- ble to left field. Merkle was passed, filling the bases. With the game de- pending on his next offering, Ruth served up low, fast ball to Pick, at the same time waving his outfield- CTS toward the bleachers and the Cub second baseman dropped high fly to Whiteman, closing the inning. Whiteman captured the ball after hard run and earned laurels there by. To have missed it would have meant two runs for the locals.
 Whiteman stepped in between the Cubs and victory again in the sixth With one out. Paskert singled to cen ter, taking third when Merkle bounced a grounder over Ruth's head and into centerfield Pick grounded out to Me Innis. unassisted, and Stuffy's quick throw from first held the Cub sec ond baseman at third. A moment later Whiteman again stepped into the fore and raced across the field after Deals long fly to deep left He captured it after hard run and the game was