The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-18
600 Fans BraUe Ran To Opening Game,
LYMAN IS WILD AND
 GAME LOST AT START
Babe" Ganzel Continues To Star And Tex
 Jeanes Wins Hat For First Hit

Once upon time, many, many years ago, the Barons had a clear opening day. People from miles around poured into the gates at Redwood field and Old Sol shown benignly down upon the field of battle and the eager fans clam ored vigorously for action. No more { does Old Sol visit Redwood upon open ing day and the sdecree of the gods is that the Barons must lose to Nashville. Furthermore, Old Jup Pluv, fearing an- other flood of tears and the subsequent loss of his job, with religious regularity . attends the games and furnishes the dampness for the occasion.
 So the rain that flooded Redwood field and the terrible drubbing at the hands of the Vols Thursday was not at all new thing, nor was 1t out of the ordinary. Eleven runs for Vols and four for Barons, then, had no signifi- canoe other than that the mandate of the gods was still in force. The rain that stopped the game in the sixth in ming was merely token of the ever presence of Old J. P. on opening day.
 10000 Fans Defi Rain
 Nevertheless, over 10000 fans wit messed the game, in the face of threat ening clouds and actual downpour of rain.s
 "we are very gratified with our show ing on opening day" said Proxy w. D. Smith. "In spite of the rain that kept all but fans of the immediate vicinity away from the game we had over 10,- 900. This was remarkable crowd for such weather conditions, and we feel that we have the support of the Bir- mingham fans this season."
 Lefty Sam Hyman, making his first Southern league start, got away on the wrong foot and had to retire before the first inning was over, after the Vols had done lasting damage. Elmer Gray went in and the Vols hit right on.
 Good" Friday, on the other hand, pitched a neat game of ball for the Vols under existing weather conditions, and the Barons were unable to do much with him, except Babe Ganzel, who nicked him for a safety on every ap- pearance at the plate.
 Turns Into Farce &
 The game grew intoaa farce in the third and fourth innings when the Vols began to hurry up the game by delib- erately getting out so that five innings would be played before the threatening clouds gave up their moisture. The Barons, on the other hand, were play ing for time.
 A rally started by Ganzel in the sixth resulted in three runs for the Barons while the other one was scored in the second. The Vols counted seven times in the initial frame and twice in the
 
 the seventh went for naught, as the game reverted back to the sixth inning, when 1t was called in the first of the seventh.
 Hyman was wild from the start and walked Murray, first man up for the Vols. He struck out LeBourveau, but walked Paskert. A wild pitch sent each runner forward a base and Grfffith's single scored Murray. Hawks was the third man to draw pass and Graf doubled, scoring Paskert and Griffith. | Hyman was relieved by Gray at this juncture and Heating greeted the new twtrler with single to left, Hawks ] scoring. Mackey singled and Graft l scored. Friday hit a double to center | and Heating and Macf<ey scored. Mur- | plate in the first inning, struck out and LeBourveau flew out to Brausen, end Ing the inning.
 Two More Counters
 Two more counters came in the sec | ond when Griffith doubled. after Pas with double and Griffith scored Graft flew out to Jeanes, but Heating singled, scoring Hawks. Mackey went, out, Hartford to Rhode, ending the in- ming.
 The Barons' first tally came in the second. Jeanes started 1t and won the Knox hat given by Porter Clothing company for the first single by a Ba- ron. Rhode walked and Ganzel sin gled, Jeanes stopping at third. Hart ford flied out to center, but Robertson's grounder that forced Ganzel at second | provided the means for Jeanes' trip | across the plate. Gray went out, Fri | day to Hawks.
 The other three Barons runs came in | the sixth, when Gazel singled. Hart ford advanced him on his infield out | and Robertson sent him to third on his infield out. Gray singled and | scored Ganzel. Brausen singled and |