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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM April 11, 1912 ... After trailing the Highlanders for eight innings, during which it looked as though Ray Caldwell had the Red Sox players completely under his control, they turned on the slim pitcher in the ninth inning and flattened out his curves for four runs. The final opening day score was 5 to 3 at the Hilltop Park in New York. While it was estimated that 15,000 fans attended the game, there is no doubt that the fact the Giants were scheduled to play in Brooklyn had an effect on the attendance. The fans appreciated the fact that manager Jake Stahl was leading a very powerful Red Sox team and that Joe Wood and Buck O'Brien were up to do the pitching. Just the same, when manager Harry Wolverton and his squad came into view of the fans, reception was as warm and kind as one would expect on opening day. The old guard and the new were appreciated by Highlander fans and they were heartily cheered in turn. It was Wolverton's first major-league game and his face was known only to a very few of the spectators. The fans hope that he will be the right man in the right place. Chief Justice Edward Mackall was with Highlander President Frank Farrell and was invited to throw out the first pitch. The Red Sox won it in the ninth-inning with a rally, but New York took the lead in the first inning. The Red Sox scored in their half of the first inning. Harry Hooper, with two strikes on him, touched Caldwell for a clean single to left. While Steve Yerkes was being called out on strikes, Hooper stole second, and went to third when Gabby Street's throw that sailed into centerfield. Caldwell pitched around Tris Speaker and eventually walked him. Manager Stahl came to bat and the outfielders moved up to the fences, where Birdie Cree gathered in a long fly ball, that allowed Hooper to score the first run of the game. Joe Wood started wild and passed two men in the first inning. Harry Wolter worked him for a pass and Bert Daniels knocked one through the box, putting runners on first and second. Hal Chase then dumped a nice sacrifice bunt to move the runners along. Wolter then crossed the plate on a ground ball to Steve Yerkes as Daniels moved to third. Roy Hartzell worked Wood for a base on balls and then stole second base during a double steal attempt. Les Nunamaker tried to pick Daniels off third-base, but his wide throw allowed him to come home and make the score 2 to 1. Neither pitcher allowed another run until the ninth-inning. Caldwell allowed Stahl to work him for a base on balls and then Larry Gardner sacrificed him to second. Duffy Lewis knocked out a single to right and Stahl came across with the tying run. Next, Heinie Wagner sent a line drive down the third-base line that Hartzell was only able to knock down, putting runners at first and second. Nunamaker lined a single over second that scored Lewis and on the play to the plate Wagner reached third and Nunamaker went to second. Joe Wood came up next and cracked out a single to center that scored both runners and gave the Red Sox their fourth run and a 5 to 2 lead. At this stage Wolverton pulled Caldwell and brought in Hippo Vaughn, who fanned Hooper, and got Yerkes to ground out. The Highlanders made a stand in the last of the ninth. Hartzell led off with a single and Cozy Dolan drove a base hit to right, that Hooper got back quickly to the infield, holding Hartzell at second. Earle Gardner grounded one back to Wood that moved up the two runners. Street hit one to Wagner at short that scored Hartzell, but Dolan was caught between second and third and was tagged out by Yerkes. The game ended as George Simmons, a rookie from the Rochester team, batted for Vaughn and popped out to Stahl. |
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