Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-09
Fans Idolize Graceful
Stars
Such Men as Lajoie and Chase, by
Their Wizard Insight, captivate
Fans with Spectacular, Yet
Consistent, Play

the laCe iUS 10 lHe present IlIlle.
Have ZAP spalding George Wright,
Harry Wright, Ned" Williamson,
Baby Anson, "Arlie" Latham,
Buck Ewing, Charley Comiskey,
mike" Kelly, John Clarkson, "Sir Tim
othy" Keefe, Pat" Tebeau, John Mont
gomery Ward, Joe" Start, "Old Hoss"
Radbourne, "Old Sport" Calvin, Dan"
Brouthers and two score and more of
others been forgotten in admiring the
achievements of the idols of the pres
ent?
Not so, for the memory which is still
green enough to go back to former
days cherishes as fondly it's recollec-
tions of the old timers as it's possessor
admires the skillful art of the present
generation.
Why is a baseball idol?
"Arlie" Latham, the wit of the dia-
mond, once answered that question by
replying, because he can't help 1t.
Nature sentenced him to it and he has
got to serve his term without any time
off for good behavior"
Analyze Latham's statement closely
and it will be found that truth is
slowed away in it's phrasing.
The public creates the baseball idols,
not the managers. The public is keen
and incisive in it's judgment. 1t Sc
lects men with red blood, quick per-
ception, strength, agility, physical
grace sometimes and the rare skill OF
being able to do something a little
better than somebody else at critical
moment.
1t takes one man for his pitching,
another for his fielding, third for his
batting and when it finds one who can
run, bat and field, or another who can
strike three men out in succession Wneh
the game is tightest and the excite
ment is raging at fever heat 1t ex'
presses it's alteration with a roar OF
applause that browns all other sounds
within the carrying power of the hu-
man voice.
Combined with the necessary physica
skill which must be an essential for 9
baseball idol there seems to be cur
rent of magnetism between him anc
n the crowd that puts both In common
touch.
The mistakes that a baseball lido
occasionally may make are forgotten
in the memory of what he did some
other time when the stress of battls
was fiercest that brought victory tc
his team No player who wavers OF
falters when the crucial moment is al
hand can hope to bask in the smiles
of the "sun gods"
The Big Four
Four players of the present genera
ton are perhaps more discussed ano
argued over than any who may be
named. They are Christopher Mathew
son of the New York National league
club. as great as any if not the great
est pitcher ever connected with a pro-
fessional team; Napoleon Lajoie OF the
cleveland club, one of the best batters
in the history of baseball; "Haps'
Wagner of the Pittsburg club, splen-
did batter and sensational fielder, anc
"HaP' Chase of the New York Amer
can league club, whose graceful art
at first base has never peen surpaSseu
and who combines with 1t the quantities
of a. good batter and a good base run
ner. ~
"Christy' Mathewson has made al
of his reputation under the eyes OF
New -lorll baseball enthusiasts. lie
nlaved for a short time in minor
ieague club before he joined the Giants
hut he was really in the primary stage
of his career when he came to TINS
city. and he has developed from tha'
to the leading position In the great az.
raw of pitchers who occupy posltlonS
with the major league teams.
He is popular because he is WIN
ner During all his career he has
never had a wholly unsuccessful sea-
son His nearest APPROACH to one was
in 1906. when he fell off trif1e because
of illness contracted in the spring. Az
that he won about two-thirds OF the
games which he pitched.
There seems to be nothing winch
A other pitchers can do that MatheWsoI
4 Sannot duplicate, and he can do a lt-
a lie in addition. He uses tremendous
sneed when he thinks it proper, varies
II with a slow ball when he believes
thai he can fool the batter, can pitch
dron that will fall away from the
nlate until the ball seems to float like
4 . tov balloon, and, with it all, PROB
ahlv has more perfect control OF the
bali than any other pitcher IN ellhei
league. ,.e,+io,,s
These are his technical qualifications
And to them modesty that amounts !;
almost to diffidence, department WIZ
which no fault is to be round anu .
bovish demeanor that bellies the iorce
of the man underneath it, and you have
& an idea Of "Big Six" the nickname tha'
the bows have now attached to him'
A And the boys of New York maoe
Mathewson an idol He came mere
boy, and every boy in the city pecaIle
7 slyitallv interested in him when ne pe-
4 Ngan to be successful. ~.
\ "Matty,' and his successes were the
& gossip of the school yard, anu sa as
a E'Matty'' always had a kind word toI
every boy who accosted him was no n9'
time before train OF youngsters toi'
4 lowed in his wake whenever he ap'
tpeared in public. Where the boys
found an idol their elders quickly founo
+ theirs
( Napoleon Lajoie played ball In Fall
River, Mass, before he became meni-
Ter of the major league. He began ms
areer in expert circles IN Phliadelpnla,
and he whipped his way into the hearts
= the Philadelphia populace by rappine
le ball over convenient fences for
me runs or hitting it over the heads
the outfielders for three baggers
zen there were two or three men on
bases.
Incompatible Lajoie
se dubbed himself into popularity
n who can make home runs, three
a Sin In.s with fl1f