The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-17
MATHEWSON REAL
STAR OF SERIES
Always Game, Fighting as a Real
Fighter. He Loses Deciding
Struggle.
BIZ GUS MALBERT.
Fred Merkle in 1908.
1910

Fred Snodsrass in 1872.
twice within period OF ave years
John j. McGraw has suffered because
of unexpected and ineNeusaoie iapses
on the part OF ball players. IN whom
the utmost confidence had been placed
ss TO their ability to withstand the
strain. Twice within a half decade
two normally constituted young men,
drawing salaries greatly In excess OF
their earning capacity In any other
profession. have proved beyond the
possible peradventure OF doubt that
baseball is played as much with the
head as with the hands.
In 1908 McGraw and his Giants were
deprived Of participat ion in a worlds
series because M>rkle tried to end the
game in manner contrary - the
rules. In l9l2 McGraw and another
6pure even mis- hitter than the mighty
Mct;raw, were both deprived of win
ming not only the honor attaching to
worlds champions, but the paimihs
salye of dollars which goes with that
honor because Of the lapse on the part
of Fred SnodGrass.
Not in any league would there De
one chance in 1000 that tiy bail Soen
as was muffed by the Giant centre
fielder when Ensie gave him his OPP
portunity. would drop 10 the ground,
an error being charged against the
fielder instead OF an out 1t decided
a worlds series and robbed the great
est hurler the game has ever known
OF his laurel wreaths-wreaths justly
earned and well deserved.
We are not repinihg- The copy mill
is still grinding. Jimmy McAleer. as
name, weighs just as heavily with us
as Johnny McGrak. 1t is Tor neither
of these that We have consideration.
Nns h1S-
peer of all the fingers, past or pres
emit. the man who drew the hair which
held the sword above the Giants heads
into a veritable hempen chain OF I'M
told strength. we feel deeply. uueiy'
sorry. He won and lost He beat his
opponents, yet was deprived OF VIC
tory. He is the one. grand. glorious,
scintiIIating light Of the series, and
yet he must talre the losers share
Outpitching both wood and Bedient;
outgeneralling the entire Red sox at
tack-and il is an attack worthy OF
the highest commenda tion--he lost as
Napoleon lost. because his aides Jailed
at the crucial moment. Broken. heart
sore. weary from the three grinding,
Rruellinx battles through which he
had passed always the general. never
the lieutenant. leading his followers
through the thick OF fray. guiding
them desperately vet wisely through
the pitfalls: never faltering. but al
ways alert: the brains OF the combi-
nation both extensively and defensive
ly; his the hand which filed the gap
in the levee: how his stout heart must
have wflted and cried. cried with the
sobs of n child. but the spirit OF a
Spartan as ne saw his grandest efforts
tossed dismally into the slough OF
defeat by his helpmates.
Boston won the series. and as SIC
Graw said TO Stahl, congratulations are
in order But il must be small comfort
to the Boston players to know and re-
default Great bail club that Jake
Stahl has and great general that he Is.
he must now feel that his jam u
spoiled-spoiled by that grain OF bit
ter which every true sportsman is only
too willing to permit
Christy Mathewson lost his game.
will read the headlinea, but deep in
their hearts loyal Giant fans. real Bos-
ton fans and the people throughout
this country will don Their hats In re-
spect to the greatest figure Of the
greatest series in the greatest game
the world has ever produced. Christy
Mathewson is the real. unlosahle. ever
present star Of the 1912 series. He
lost three games, but each loss but
added to his lustre, and should the
game lose him forever to-day his fame
NAV well rest secure upon his wonder
full heroic. game battles against an
unkind fate and a weakl!ng defense