Evening journal., 1908-09-24
TAKE Him OUT"
RATTLES PITCHERS
MattheWSOn Says II Takes All
the Gimp Out of Young
Fellows

Chrsty Mathewson. the star pitcher
for the Giants, was talking the other day
about that take him OUT howl of the
fans when pitcher is showing signs Of
weakening in his work. Il don't suppose
the fans ever viii give up that take him
out cry Of theirs" he said. but 1t would
be mighty good thing If they could be
induced 20 toss that demand into the dis
card. IL would be great help TO young
pitchers, just breaking into quick com.
pany, anyway. The old-timers get used
to IL, as rule-though I could mention
even a few OF the veterans who get to
hallooning the minute the gang IN the
stand and bleachers begins to bawl that
take him out stun.
But the take him out howl certainly
does knock all OF the gimp out Of the
young fellows. A mans physical prowess
and ability are more or less regulated by
the state of his mind. Of course, and a
mentally distributed baseball pitcher IS
Of Just about as much use as an automo-
bile without a carburetor. The demand
that he be timed is a thing that affects
this pitcher one way and that pitcher an
other way, but It can't help but get the
wheels either OF fear or Of defiance or. at
any rate, Of stubborness. to revolving in
the going up pitchers head
"The young pitcher getting his first try
out IA big company Is always warned
in advance by the old-timers how to be-
have ia case he slaclens for minute and
then has TO listen to that tantalizing
take him out yell. He's told to close his
ears TO Il, not TO mind Il. to 80 right
ahead pitching as IL there was nobody in
the stand and so on But it's generally
good advice wasted. Pitchers are human,
despite an occasionally contrary impress
sion, and it's "a human trait to feel shrivel
ed and withered and measly under hard
roared criticism.
81 know plenty " pitchers. perfectly
competent TO make good In fast COM
pany. who, when they got the take him
out goad at the first 'try-out made such
a mess OF it that they were permanently
relegated TO the minors Their hearts
worSedfhoir way into their mouths when
theo heard the gang bawling at them and
they simply could not by any effort OF
will throw on the feeling of humiliation
and get the skill and the power into their
arms that their arms normally possessed.
"It takes a long time for pitcher Ia
deGelop sufficient poise TO be able to
steady himself against take him out cry
They pulled that howl on me several time.
tlAs season. and, as hadn't heard It ap.
-nlied TO myself for quite a number ol
/ years. II sure did put a hinge In my arm
and did have TO be taken out every tim,
the demand was hurled out by the gang
for / was perfectly incompetent 10 &c
Nahead and work.
II finally got plg-headed abou. It
though. and one day when I started e
pitch against Pittsburg after having beer
vanko1 from the box only two days be.
fore made up my mind to beat 'em oui
on their cry somehow. / don't have much
on this day at that. and was some wild
in the bargain, so that In the very first
inning / walked two men and hit another
filing the bases.
"Then they slipped me the big big
holler, take him out and ! feat ugly
and desperate. It was during that spring
period when I had my bad slump. and I
was more or less to tho bad With those
three men on the bases, and with tho gang
bowling for my timing, McGraw trudged
down the lot and motoned ma &c get my
drink OF water. I shook my head at him
I save him the nix good and strong. and
told him that I was there to pitch and
that pitch I intended TO do Maggsy looked
me over picked up a blade Of grass and
chewed It and told me 10 20 ahead then
and blow the game ~ ! was going to he
so ugly about il. Tile crowd continued tc
shrek for my canmg. but ] wn'issi the
next three in a tidy little room and 1 won
the game, TO ]. without bit OF bother"