The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-11
FROM COLLEGE STAR TO BIG
LEAGUE WIZARD.
Presented With Knight Automobile
Last Week-Outlook for a Good
Record Again This Season.

How 'Matty" became Big league
pitcher is a story OF athletic romance
rapid and romatic enough to height
en- the widest flight of Imagination OF
those youngsters, who dream OF fame
az a ball tosser. At an age when
most ambitious ball players are Just
learning to swing a bat, "Matty" was
playing real ball with team in one
OF the minor leagues. And during
that period he was invariably playing
with and againsg men who were old
er both in years and experience.
-Matty's" soundest advice to an in
spring pitcher is that upon which
his own success was founded-con-
troll CT the ball.
He freely admits that his early de-
termination not to sacrifice control
10 any other element OF the game has
had al important bearing upon his
career. How he practiced throwing
stones merely for amusement in the
town Of Factoryville, Pa, when he
was nine years old, how he pitched
balls all day long at a companion
who stood up against a barn. are in
cidents of his early training which
he delights in relating.
Played Town Ball.
He was Mascot of the own team.
He chased all the wild fouls that no
one else was willing TO run after.
He practiced pitching "ins," outs"
and drops" Three years later
when the Factoryville pitcher failed
TO show up for a game he had his
first opportunity to- play ball.
II was not without a test. however.
The team was composed OF big.
brawny men. who had enjoyed all they
could give them. These players act
ed as critics while That Mathewson
kid" pitched for two solid hours. Al
ter the best batsmen OF the town had
been stacked up against him, he sue
ceeded in tanning out the captain
He also won the game for his team.
Next fall found "Matty" playing
second base on the team OF keystone
Academy and the following year, at
the age OF IA. he was captain. One
thing worried him, however. He was
cToss-hdnded in hitting, even II he
did have good control OF his curves,
and he set himself to work correcting
MS style When vacation time came
ground. he returned TO Factoryville
and pitched for the team. but he was
soon bought by a rival team in a
nearby town, receiving exactly one
dollar a game and playing with the
grown-ups,
College Graduate.
Graduating from keystone in '9s he
went 10 Bucknell College While In
Scranton that summer, a Y. VI. c. 4.
game in which he struck out fifteen
men did much to focus attention up.
on him and when he later went to
Honesville. Pa. he was given twenty
dollars a month and his board to
pitch for the town team. Before the
season ended he was offered $50
month TO pitch for the Taunton club
in the New England league but this
club disbanded and he returned to
Housewife. which place, "Matty"
says. became an important mile-post
In his career. II Is here that he dis
covered and practised the fade.
away" which later become OF great
value TO him and he also ceased TO
hit handed.
College Star.
In the fall of the year. returning to
Bucknell. he played fullback upon the
college football team, as a member OF
which he was then more widely
known than a baseball team. This
was due TO his ability as a drOp-kick-
er. In fact. during a football game
with the University OF Pennsylvania
he scored two field goals and his
work brought him 20 the attention OF
"PhenOm" John Smith. a former man
ager Of n New England league club.
Smith signed him up In the Virginia
league with the Norfolk club.
"Matty' went back 10 Bucknell
when the football game was ended.
proud OF his score In collegiate foot.
ball and with a contract 70 play base.
ball for Norfolk a. $50 per month.
His season az this club was equally
brilliant Twenty-one games out Of
twenty-three we're placed 10 his
credit.
This was his last minor league
record "Pheuom" John Smith had
the opportunity to sell "Matty" 20 the
New York Nationals or 70 the phila.
dclphia club and he gave "Matty"
his choice. Re decided on the Giants
because be believed there was great.
or opportunity and he became Big
league pitcher when he was just ~
years old. The brilliant work be- has
done since 1900 Is matter OF vivid
recollection TO every fan.
His Record.
While "Matty" got a bad start IN
1900. subsequent seasons brought his
average up 90 remarkable point
out Of 42t games which be has pitch.
cd in National league fights. he
scored 2S9 victories and 1872 defeats.
In twelve years his average has been
siXty.cight per cent and when % is
recalled that his first three years ln.
volved winning with n team that was
then a tail endcr. his record becomes
the more appreciated.
The Giant stars best season was On
1904 when he won IS games and lost
but EIGHT in eleven postscason
games against the Athletics. Red sox
and fanks in the American league.
the Giant twirier permitted only
seventeen runs. What o. equally re-
markabie is that 90 90 innings played
in postseasOn games only ~ develop.
ID n tally and in SIS innings with
f MnHfw" fm fhm Mrw nos O. .faa..r