Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-31
MATTY ISSUES
FEWERPASSES
THAN OTHERS
By Damon Runyon.

"OLpo .1 KING ,t CONTROL" alias
blond bulk looms up so re-
assuringly in that vista of possibilities
between now and the worlds series, is
unostentatiously compiling a new rec
ord for himself this season. 1t isn't
such record as will arouse the same
hurrah as a strike-out figure or a con-
secutive victory mark, perhaps. but it is
just as important in many ways as
lot of things that get more publicity 1t
is one of the many little details that
make the distinguished author and
checker expert somewhat different from
| the other birds
| In an era of Tildness among pro-
pellers of high and low degree the Old
Marster retains his serene self-pos-
session. He is the Walkless Wonder
Always noted for a peculiar and init
mate knowledge of just where the ball
is going when it leaves his high sal
aired right hand, the architect of the
fade-away is surprising himself this
season. In 25 games up to July 26,
when he pitched his last game, Math-
ewson had given but 10 bases on balls.
None of the other great right handlers
In either league approaches this record
for control
Walter johnson, of Washington, has
yielded Sc walks in 20 games, and
Smoky Joe Wood, Of Boston, has
given 81 in &c games Ed Walsh, the
Iron lrishman, has passed SO in SO
games-a pretty nifty record in itself
considering the number of times the
Meridian Scatter Gun has been out.
Charley Hall, the Castillian curver on
Stahrs staff, has issued SO yards Of
free transportation in % games.
Rest Are Wild in Comparison.
Chief Bender, the Athletic aborigine,
has passed "a in 16 games, and John
Coombs has walked So in "a. Fellows
like Jimmy Lavender, Cheney, Howard
Camnitz, Grover Cleveland Alexander,
Bob Harmon Tom Seaton, Russell
Ford, Joe Benz Buck O'Brien and
George Mullin are veritable wild men
compared to the serene Matty
The spitball brought a great deal of
wildness in its wake, and where left
! handlers used to be ranked collectively
as knights of uncontrol. it is found that
| they are no wilder than their right
hand brethren who use the slippery elm.
! RUDE Marquard for instance, has
| walked 81 in IS games, while Hendrix,
of Pittsburg, right-handed splitter,
| has passed 70 in % conflicts. Still
| Alexander. the Doom star, has passed
as many as Hendrix, and he does not
fool with the damp fling to any extent,
but Alexander has worked in 2S games.
or course, these figures include games
l 10, - 49,. AL.
few innings at a time, but they give a
pretty fair general line on the PROPOSE
ton of control.
Coombs in "a games passed more men
| than the side wheeler, Eddie Plank, in
20. Against Jacks 60 walks, the Get
tysburg Calling let but AZ batters go
free. Vean Gregg. the Cleveland Koh
i-noor left handler, walked no more in
u games than Buck O'Brien. the Bos
ton Blazer right handler, did in the
same number of times out.
Rucker Has Splendid Control
Napoleon Rucker, the Brooklyn En-
press, has passed only 3S men in 80
games. but Napoleon is the Mathewsou
OF the left handed brigade in point Of
control George Wiltse is another left
handler who has his hooks under COM
mand having passed but 20 in II
games. Young Robinson, of Pittsburg
is credited with figuring in is games,
and has passed but H. Benton is one
of the widest left handlers, having
walked II in % games.
The widest HEAVIER IN captivity is the
Pirates expensive Marty O'Toole, who
has passed 80 batsmen in u games
while Kaler, the Cleveland White Hope.
another rght-hander. has walked SO in
&c games.
In 1911 Mathewson walked rs in As
games. hit but a single batsman anu
made but two wild pitches. He has
allowed 172 hits so far this season. a
somewhat greater number than most
OF his right handed rivals. bat the
times when he gets In trouble from in
liability TO control the ban are mighty
few and far between. Johnson has all
lowed only l47 hits Ia his - games
while Joe Wood has held his rivals 90
1850