The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-22

SHINING LIGHT IN 1901
Has Been Able to Remain In Big
Leagues Since ThatsT Time and
Has Performed Many
Feats on Diamond.

an interesting career. Some years
ago Cincinnati reached out languidly,
gathered him in, delayed try-out and
finally traded him to New York for a
second hand belt. orsomething OF that
sort. The rangey novice was sent
into two games In the fall OF 1900 and
came out plastered with defeat each
time He managed to hold over. how
ever, and in the spring OF 1901 handed
the annual opener to Yale by a slump
in the ninth inning. Then the curtain
rose on the regular league season
and, without warning, a great trans
formation scene was sprung upon the
public. The crude proposition heeled
the slab and walloped the big clubs,
one after the other. The heaviest
sluggers were like infants In his
hands. He had the speed of Rusie,
the control of Young, the endurance
OF Nichols and curves that were be-
yond any other pitcher His decisive
victories, his perfect style and the ro-
nance OF his career fastened the at
tention of the entire sporting world
on New York's representative in the
old National league
That ancient body was facing, per
haps what threatened to be the
gloomiest season In its history. but
the exploits OF the handsome college
boy lightened the sky for the time be-
ing and put an end to all worry con-
corning the loyalty OF the fans" of
the metropolis.
It will be recalled that New York
| finished in seventh place in 1901, after
grand start. The following season
was still more dismal, the luckless
Giants bringing up in the extreme
rear without struggle. Mathewson
held up his end but internal affairs
were so rotten that real endeavor
found no reward With things at their
worst McGraw and Brush came to the
rescue The air was disinfected; the
dead wood replaced with sound tim.
4 Der. In 1903 the New Yorks jumped
] seven notches into second place and
Mathewson began his climb to the
highest pinnacle of pitching fame. He
had, to begin with, that serenity Of
Temperament which is so often cater
cousin to the trained mind.
4 1t occurred to him early that hi
4 was not making the most of his i'm
mense resources. He gave an ear Il
the astute McGraw and the willy Nc
Ginnity. He learned one thing ant
!, invented something else. The valu
. of restraint, as our actor friend
would say, was duly recognized an
] his repertoire was enriched to that e,
tent During the campaign of 100
, McGinnity was the nominal leade
: but none knew better than the "Iro
Man. himself that far greater fore
than he was gradually and surely lif
: ing the New York club to the PROUD
est station in the domain OF profession
] al sport. So much has been write
about the worlds series Of 1905 ths
7 further reference simply amounts
! a waste Of ink. Every one concede
!. therefore, that Mathewson, in thu
desperate clash, hung up mark 4
the pitchers of the future to shy a
Indeed, SO unique was his trump
! that the grizzled spokesman Of tt
: Opposition was stirred into uncorkir
: the most fattering and comprehe
: siyc tribute ever paid by writer
a player. Strange to say. the tv
2 seasons that followed revealed Il
- tremendous scene of Mathewson
:. powers. It was term Of convale
: cence for him. Thin, drawn, fleshle
: he was covering the tedious route tn
leads from anti-toyinsto normal 'healt
And yet, SO profound was his know
= edge of the science of pitching, SO
~ curate his enfeebled arm that
r. managed to lead the Giants twirlil
= staff, as usual, and stand well up
:. the general list, each year.
.. Last year found Mathewson on
h more sound and ready. It was 0
q OF the best years of his amazing
ID rcer; in fact. it was the very best.
ne loving that he Was MT backed by
rs standard team. Credit him with III