The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-09-15
MATHEWS0N TO PLAY
A BIG PART IN RACE
Will Have Much to Do With Win
ming of Losing of the Pennant
This Year.

Christy MatheWson once more to the
fore Within two weeks the greatest
pitcher the world has ever produced
will be called upon again to play the
star part in the terrific struggle for
the national pennant At the very
close of the season the New York
team will be pitted both the present
leaders in the race.
September IS, IS. 10 and % Matty's
team will play at Chicago. The pre-
mier pitcher, no doubt, will be used
twice during that period. chiefly be
cause of last years defeat of the New
York team by the Windy City club,
and again because of MatheWsons de-
feat a week ago by the Cubs, when
he was knocked out of the box for the
first time
At Pittsburg. beginning September
&c, four games are scheduled with the
giants when M;,theWsons mighty arm
will again be brought into play 1t will
be the final struggle and one upon
which the eyes of the entire country
will be conferred. Mathewson's pre-
eminent position lends added interest
to the young fellows career as a base
ball player
Began Career at Bucknell
MatheWsOn began his athletic ca
reer. at Bucknell college. in Pennsyl-
Vania First he was q football player
and corker at that. They still talk
at West Point about 45-yard field
goal that Matty kicked in a Bucknell-
West Point game. In one game against
Pennsylvania he kicked two field goals
and in that day the rules didn't favor
the art of kicking as much as they do
now. A curious thing about Mattys
kicking was the fact that he could
score with either foot
After wearing the football laurels
for a while. Matty began pitching or
his college team. He was 4 success at
once. There never was a greater col
lege pitcher When be was through
with hi; course of study. professional
clubs in the minor leagues began bid
ding for his services. Matty thought
it over and decided to turn professional
for while First he signed IN with
a little league team in Massachusetts.
They didn't like Matty's pitching up
there. Can you beat it? Matty left and
went to Norfolk. Va. He. signed with
Norfolk for a salary Of SO d month.
They have that old contract framed
now and conspicuously placed on the
office wall. They use it as club over
the young players. When a youngster
tries to hold out for more money. they
show him the contract and say: why.
you've got an awful nerve. Here's what
Chrsty Mathewson signed for when
he was in your class" Then the young
player willis and feels thankful for
whatever they toss him.
The New York club bought Matty's
services from Norfolk. and here he has
been ever since-and will be as long as
he cares to play ball.
It's a safe guess that Matty will be
a star for 10 years to come He has
brains. He doesn't try to be the whole
thing all the time. He knows there
are eight other players on the team
a thing that can't be impressed upon
the intelligence Of many good twirl-
ers. AS long as there are no men on
bases he takes a chance of having the
batter land on something He is a
mathematician, and he figures the
chances are four to one that the aver
age batter won't hit safe if he does
land on the ball. He has a theory. too.
that the chance is ten to one that a
batter won't hit safe after two strikes
are called upon him. But no pitcher