The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-03

Baseball fans through the United
States. intrying to dig up an answer
that will explain the wallopings that
have been handed our big league ball
teams by the Cubans during their an
nual winter pilgrimages to the sunny
isle." have probably attributed the
success Of the Cuban players in a
great measure to the change Of eli
mate. h fact that our players are
out OF training and. being under no
strict discipline. take little care Of
themselves and accept the games as
merely a side issue to a joy ride. and
othe irrelevant to the playing
OF the Cubans themselves.
While change of climate and lack
Of condition. no doubt affect our play
ers to some extent in the first few
games played on the island during
the winter time, those who have wit
messed the games, down there and
those players. whO3 have, participated
in them will tell YOU h "a the Cubans'
success against the class Of our big
leagues is due in a large measure
1t is this strong defense that has
been the stumbling block to our
teams cleaning up in Cuba. and the
biggest individual obstacle in their
path down there has beer Jose Men
dez. star pitcher Of the Almendares
Ieanl, Known IN CuDa as The Black
Mathewson."
Mendez. although he has been play
inging ball but four years. has proved
big league teams. and he has won
his game with very little hitting be-
hind him. always holding our heavy
hitters down to a small number Of
hits and beating them solely on the
defensive. The BLACK Mathewson"
had the pleasure of beating the great
white Mathewson during the Giants
recent trip to Cuba, going in and re-
lieving Pedrosa. his teammate. after
the Giants had touched him for Jour
runs and holding the Giants score
less. and giving them but two hits in
the final four innings of the game.
Here is what the white Mathewson
has to say concerning the BLACK
Mathewson:" This fellow Mendez
a. negro. as his color bars him from
the big leagues up in the states. II
he was a white nan or an Indian
he'd be the star Of the leagues up
there in no time"
Lobert's Opinion OF Mendez.
"Honus" Lobert. who managed the
Phillies during their recent tour of
Cuba. says: "Mendez is a wonder.
and so is his catcher, Gonzalez. II
we could give those two coons a good
coat Of white paint and ring them
in with the Phillies next summer we'd
wiz the pennant on the chin strap"
Here is the record Mendez has
made against our big league teams
that played in Cuba: In November.
1908. on the occasion Of the first OPP
portunity that has been granted the
cheney against our major leaguers
through the first visit Of the Cincin-
natl National league team to Cuba,
and during Mendez's first season in
baseball, he was chosen to pitch the
opening game against the Cincinnati
team and the first game that any Gu
ban team had played against our big
leaguers in recent years. Mendez not
only showed his ability as a pitcher.
but his nerve and absolute immunity
from stage fright. by going in and
shutting out the Cincinnati team in
this game with but little hit. and
that one was a little scratch affair
made by Miller Higgins in the ninth
inning. Mendez famed nine Of the
Reds in this game. and as his own
team could get him but one III to
win with. o will see that he had to
60 some to win YER with that great
pitching.
Following this game Mendez again
shut u Cincinnati In nine innings
on December 8. 1908. and pitched Al
consecutive innings without allowing
his opponents a IL Is of these being
in the two games against Cincinnati,
and the balance again Key West and
Havana. making five consecutive shut
out victories and two additional in
nings pitched against Havana before
a run was scored against him. That's
the kind of defense our fellows have
to beat when they stack up against
"the Black Mathews0n."
In November. 1910. Mendez pitched
against Summers in a game with De-
troit during the Tigers tour Of Cuba,
and held Detroit to three hits in 10
innings. the game ending 2 to 2 tie.
In this game Mendex showed the
great ability as a fielding pitcher by
being credited with eight assists. He
followed this up in December Of the
same year. when the Philadelphia
Athletics. who had just won the
worlds championship by slamming
the Chicago Cubs pitcher all over the
lot. yer or their tour Of Cuba. by
heating the worlds champions with
Plank in the O h ythe score Of 5 to
2. holding the smuggling Athletics to
1--WE hits. In this anne Mendez had
FIRE assists from the pitcher's-box. and
struck out five men.