“Ladies and gentlemen: The batteries for to-day’s game are Fraser and Thompson for Boston, Matson and Mylert for New York.”
Loud applause followed, and this grew into a cyclone when Joe took the ball tossed to him and walked toward the pitcher’s box.
“Matson! Matson! Matson!” yelled the crowd.
Joe cast a swift look at the box where his family were seated with Mabel and Reggie. Then he touched a little glove that rested in a pocket of his uniform.
The head of the Red Sox batting order had taken up his position at the plate.
“Play ball!” called the umpire.
Joe straightened up to his full height, wound up deliberately, and the ball shot over the corner of the plate like a bullet. The batter lunged at it savagely, but only hit the air.
The crowd yelled its delight at the auspicious beginning.
“That’s the way, Joe!”