After watching the 1934 Nypen League pennant hoisted to the Bowman Field flagpole in a ceremony that marked the formal and official recognition of Williamsport as champion of the Class A circuit, the Grays went out and conquered the Reading Brooks, 4-3, in the opening game of the series.

With a “booster” throng of 1,643 paid attendees cheering him on, Fred Browning, the Missouri gent, blanked the seventh place Brooks in all but one frame and chalked up 11 strikeouts. Despite the effective performance, he almost lost the game, as the Brooks went on a batting spree in the eighth.

The pennant raising preceded the start of the game. With the drum and bugle corps of the Veterans of Foreign War leading and Mayor Harris, Grays President James Gleason, Vice-President Thomas P. Redmond, and Manager Mike McNally representing Williamsport, and Randy Hulswit, vice president and Manager, Zach Taylor, representing the Reading club, the two teams marched across the field to the flagpole, where the official bunting was floated to the breezes, while the bugles played “To the Colors.” Then came the march back across the field and the game was on.

Williamsport was first to score, Grant led off in the second inning with a two-bagger to right field, Kluck was passed, and Grant was thrown out on a fielder’s choice on Snyder. Smith popped out for the second out, but McQuaig singled to left field, scoring Kluck. Browning fanned for the third out.

Kluck tallied in the sixth and two more runs were scored in the seventh on a single by French and on a fielder’s choice by Snyder.

Compiled by Lou Hunsinger Jr.