The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-09-10

college team He was a success at
once. There never was a greater col
lege pitcher When he was through
with his 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 awhile. First he
signed up with little league team in
Massachusetts. They didn't like Mat
tvs pitching up there. Can you beat
it? Matty left and went to Norfolk,
Va He signed with Norfolk for a
salary of $40 a month
Have Contract Framed.
They have that old contract framed
now and conspicuously placed on the
office wall They use it as a club over
the young players. When youngster
tries to hold out for more money they
show him the contract and say, why,
you've an awful nerSe: Here's what
Christy 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
been ever since-and will be as long as
he cares to play ball.
Still Good for Ten Years.
It's safe guess that Matty will be
star for ten years more. 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 tWirlers. AS
long as there are no men on bases ne
takes a chance of having the batter
,, land on something. He is a mathema-
tician, ard figures the chances are four
. to che that the average batter won't
hit safe if he does land on the ball
He has theory, too. that the chance is
| ten to one that batter won't hit safe
after two strikes are called on him.
But no pitcher in the game can
tighten up harder than Matty does
when there are men on bases Then
he really extends himself. BY reserv-
ing his energies in this manner he can
! do wonders in pinch. Moreover, he
will last much longer than he would if
he plugged all the time. He's only 90
! this month
| A keen analytical mind has Matty.
He plays a great game of poker or
bridge whist. He can figure TIC cnanr-
es of any game of skill or luck in
/ moment and then play it scientifically
| He carries the same calculating mind
into business, and his investments in
stocks, bonds. mortgages, etc, are
making him a rich man.
A little while ago Matty took fiier
| in the insurance business He made
money. If he left baseball today he'd
ihohc Soou dt any lllilS else, lOT lie Ids
brains. In this he differs from many
other great athletes who carry their
intellect just below the ankles
Lover of Grand Opera.
Outside the game he plays profess
sionally Mathewson is anything but a
sport as that much abused term is
understood along Broadway He lives
quietly at home with his family Che
has boy years ODD and his favor,te
recreation is grand opera. He knows
all the operas, they say
You can see from a distance that
Christy Mathewson is quiet and re-
served But don't for Il moment think
that the reserve is sign of self-con-
ceit. When. the Giants won the pen
nant they got together and presented
to Matty a diamond ring valued at sew
eral hundred dollars. Do You think
they would have done that had there
been anything naughty about c. Ma
players aren't built that way.
All ball players like Matty. SO do
the umpires, although being generally
grabbed by nature umpireS don't say
so. Matty has never been put out of
a game. He is always gentleman.
There was only one time that he came
near taking a walk. That was on one
occasion when Rigler was officiating.
Rigler's decisions on balls and strikes
are not always pleasing.
One particularly aggravating deci- |
sion upset Matty for a moment and he
slammed his glove violently on the !
ground in disgust Then. before the
umpire could jump on him, MATHIS
college training came to his aid He !
remembered the story of William the
Conqueror. William went from the