Evening star., 1912-11-10
BY BILLY EVANS.

Gameness is a trait much admired IN
all sports. but none more so than base
ball. In the great national pastime op-
portunities galore are offered the players
and teams to prove their worth, or show
the streak.
ANYBODY can be good winner, but good
losers are rather the exception to the
rule. The New York Giants as men
and a team proved themselves good los
ers in the recent worlds series. Gooo
losers are to be greatly admired. Inc
Giants are greater in this defeat than
many team in glorious victory.
Immediately after the eighth and fnai
game of the series, in which MatheWson
suffered a tough defeat after ten innings
of play. all New Workers seemed to re-
gard the depot in Boston as the best
spot in the city. They were all anxious
to get back to Gotham, and forget about
the Red Sox. Some business with the
commission made it necessary that the
umpires also return to New York. be-
fore leaving for their winter homes.
When 1 reached the Back Bay. station
goodly crowd Of New Workers was
awaiting the first train home. The enure
New York team was also there nap
per1ed to bump into Christy MatneWson
as / came down the steps. Naturally !
complimented him on his great pltchlng
and expressed my sympathy over his de-
feat Matty in his usual modest man
ner passed over the defeat as lightly as
possible. 1--WE gotten the breaks and
won many an important game during my
career" said Matty This afternoon ne afS >
battle, however. was one game OF all
games that I wanted to win. but the
breaks went the other way and l lost
You must expect the bitter as well as
the sweet in base ball"
That little speech was characteristic OF
the great pitcher. Here was a man who
had been robbed of glory and gold, due
to a couple of little slips on the part OF
his teammates, after he had given mas
terly exhibition of pitching. Yet there
wasn't a bit of resentment in his SOUL
He had no criticism to offer, no censure
for any Of his teammates. While 1t was
plainly apparent that Matty was neart-
broken over the result still he accepted
defeat like real man, ana onereo no @ ex-
cuse, other than that the breaks of the
game had gone against him. ! marveled
at him as / walked away.
Refuses to Blame Associates.
While standing four or five feet away.
talking to one of the other un1psres. l
noticed a wildly excited rooter rush
toward Matty. He looked as II he was
ready to do the sob act at any minute.
He evidently knew, Matty well from the
way he addressed him. Part of the con-
versation l overheard. 1t was not diff
cult to overhear the fan, for he really
should have hired a hall. Matty. on the
other hand, talked scarcely above a
whisper.
THAT was the worst muff I ever saw,
Matty!' fairly yelled the excited fan.
"McGraw ought to get rid Of Snodgrass
right away. They will never stand for
him at the Polo Grounds. What was
Merkle doing on that fly ball?"
"Snodgrass is all right, McGraw won't
get rid of him, and you fans will be sing
ing his praises before next season is a
month Old said Matty, with a smile.
You know Merkle is a great favorite
of mine," continued the fan. but | will
never forgive him for his failure to start
on that fly ball
When Fred crashes into the ball with
three on. for two bases, and beats Pitts
burgh or Chicago, in some important
game. you will forget all about past mis-
Deeds
Perhaps 1 WILL said the fan. who had
cooled down somewhat, but only for
those misplays we would have won:'
Possibly" replied the great pitcher
some phenomenal playing by these two
men the Giants would have never had a
chance to take part in the eighth game"
Just then the :S3 pulled into the station.
and for a moment everybody forgot base
ball. in an effort to board the train and
get g. seat in the diner.
/ was wondering II all the players felt
the same about the defeat; If they all
were as willing to forgive the men who
had made the misplays, that cost each
player about 81 800. While the players
were naturally bit downcast over their
failure to win the title. as well as the
extra money, the very best of feeling pre-
vailed in their private car. Snodgrass
and Merkle came in for just as much
favorable consideration as did Matty. 1t
was really delightful to see the players
assume such an attitude. and proved con-