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

. ~
J Christy Mathewson, whose
blond bulk looms up so re-
assurngly in that vista of possibilities
between now and the worlds series. is
unostentatiously compiling new rec
ord for himself this season. 1t isn't
such a record as will arouse the same
hurrah as a strike-out figure or 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 wildness 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-
arled right hand, the architect of The
fadeaway is surprising himself This
season. In rs games up to july 26
when he pitched his last game, Main
eWson mad given but 10 bases on balls.
None of the other great right handlers
IN either league approaches this record
for control
waiter Johnson, of Washington, has
yielded sc walks in 20 games. and
Smoky Joe Wood, of Boston, has
given 81 in 20 games Ed Walsh, the
Iron Irishman, has passed SO in SO
games-a pretty nifty record in itself,
consolidating tho ha- of
Meridian Scatter Gun has been out.
Charley Hall, the Castillian curver on
Stahrs staff, has issued SIS yards of
free transportation in % games
Rest Are Wild in Comparison.
Chief Bender the Athletic aborigne,
has passed "a in 16 games and John
Coombs has walked 65 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 veritabe wild men
compared to the serene Matty.
The spitball brought a great deal of
WlldneSS 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 Vanguard. for instance, has
walked 81 in 26 games, while Hendrix,
OF Pittsbutg, a right handed splitter,
has passed u in 23 conflicts. Suu.
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 % games.
OF course, these figures include games
in which pitchers appeared for only a
faK Inn mo tifO1a hut tlAox crfx
pretty fair general line on the PROPOSE
ton of control.
Coombs in "a games passed more men
than the side wheeler, Eddie Plank, in
%. Against Jacks 65 walks, the Get
tysburg Calling let but AZ batters so
free Vean Gregg, the Cleveland Koh-
i-noor left handler walked no more in
21 games than Buck O'Brien, the Bos-
ton Blazer right-hander did in the
same number of times out.
Rueker 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 IL. Benton is one
OF the widest left handlers, having
walked Il in % games.
The widest HEAVIER IN captivity is the
Pirates expensive Marty O'Toole who
has passed 80 hatsmen in 81 games
while Kaler, the Cleveland White Hope,
another right handler. has walked SO in
26 games.
In 1911 Mathewson walked SO in As
games, hit but a single batsman anu
made but two wild pitches. He has
allowed 10 hits far this a
somewhat greater number than most
OF his right handed rivals. but the
times when he gets in trouble from in
ability TO control the ball are mighty
few and far between. Johnson has al
lowed only l47 hits In his - games.
while Joe Wood has held his rivals 10
100