El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-31
CUBAN NOT
So GREAT HOW
New York Giants and Nc
Graw Give Quietus to
Prominent Islander.

New York. Jan. s1-Since the recent
visit OF the New York Giants to Cuba
there has been some revision Of opin-
ion on the island concerning the over
towering greatness Of one Jose Men
dez. Time was when Christy Mathew
son was expected to feel fattered that
they termed AEendez the Black Mat
~ Now the dusky twirler Of the
Pearl OF the Antilles is rather expect
ed 10 consider himself honored in the
nickname Great is Mendez, but the
Cubans have learned that there are
others A record Of three straight de-
feats at the hands Of the Giants
changed things.
Doesn't NettIe Cubans a Bit.
The Cubans are not sore about it.
In fact, II an opinion expressed in a
Havana newspaper Is to be taken as
criterion, there is some relief at the
awakening; Mendez-and his admirers
threatened to take possession of. the
island TO the exclusion Of all other no
tables There is relief that their ambi-
lions are curbed for a recent issue OF
La Lucha OF Havana says
Especially viii rhe resident Ameri-
cans in Cuba be grateful to Mr.. Ma
rheWson for the operation that he has
performed, greatly assisted by his
duced the swelling from the upper
neadpiece Of one senior Mendez, which
aliment was about 10 ruin a really
good pitcher. In TACT, he is q great
pitcher. but there are others And ait
er the process OF reducing the swell
ing, which has not been altogether
painless, Is fully established, the great
cuban pitcher can once more resume
MS place as the greatest living pitcher
lin Cuba"
When the Giants first landed in
Cuba Mendez was the greatest pitcher
jim the world He had humbled the
Phillies and there was much talk Of
what he would DO TO the Giants. The
Cubans thought all the world felt about
as they did II is told that John Nc
GraW's unpopularity in the island real
ly dated from the time when he gave
Mendez first greeting
Procuring the Cuban's Cost.
IT was in the initial meeting Of the
Giants and The Havana team The Gl-
ants took the field and MsGraW took
the third base coaching box The game
was about 10 begin and a respectful
hush fell over the multitude A big
black bear in white uniform STROBE ma
festfcallv TO the center Of the dia-
mond Cuban fans barred their heads
IN the tropic sun--'tWas the great Men
deE
McGraW could not grasp the situa-
ton. He cooked his head TO one side
glanced over the kneeling multitude
his eve caught the black figure stand
ing in silent majesty, and he broke the
stiffness OF the Havana park by burt
ing cut in his best Broadway English;
Who's that guy"
such ignorance, such sacrileges al
most cost John McGraW his life That
lie should not know the great Mendez;
that he should not feel his presence,
nettIed the Cuban fans and they arose
from their knees 10 hurl imprecatiOns
upon John McGraW's head Prom that
day Until he left the island he was
made TO feel their displeasure- The
Cubaus were good sports enough to
acknowledge that the Giants could beat
their Mendez but they could not for
get the shock Of that greeting John
gave their idol
IT IS suspected that John McGraw
was playing a shreWd game when he
contemptuously referred TO that guy"
He was after SenOf AIendez's goat
and he got il, as the record Of ehe Gu
ban series shows.