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

"Ohoo nr klSa m G9MTRoL'" r 1,ss
blond bulk looms up so re-
assuringly in that vista Of possibilities
between now and the worlds series. is
unostentatiously compiling a new rec
ord for himself this season. 1t isn't
such record as will arouse the same
hurrah as a strike-out figure or a con-
secutive victory mark, perhaps. but it is
just as important in many ways as a.
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 witness 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
aired right hand, the architect of the
fade-away is surprising himself this
season. In 25 games up to july 26
when he pitched his last game. Math-
ewson had given but 10 bases on balls.
None of the other great right-handers
In either league approaches this record
for control
walter Johnson, of Washington. has
yielded Sc walks in 20 games. and
Smoky" Joe Wood, of Boston. has
given 81 in 26 games Ed Walsh. the
Iron lrishman, has passed SO in SO
games-a pretty nifty record in itself,
considering the number of times the
Meridian Scatter Gun has been out.
Charley Hall, the Castillian curver on
Stahl's staff, has issued SIS yards of
free transportation in % games.
Rest Are Wild in Comparison.
chief Bender, the Athletic aborigine
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 OBrien and
George Mullin are veritabe wild men
compared to the serene Matty
The spitball brought 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.
Rube Marquard, for instance, has
walked 81 in 26 games, while Hendrix,
of Pittsburg, right handed splitter
has passed y in % conflicts. Still,
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
or course, these figures include games
IN which pitchers appeared for only d
few innings at time. but they give a
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 4 batterS go |
free. Nean Gregg, the Cleveland Koh- |
i-noor left handler, walked no more in |
2l games than Buck OBren. the Bos- |
ton Blazer right handler. did in the |
same number of times out
Rucker Has Splendid Control.
Napoleon Rucker the Brooklyn En- |
press has passed only 80 men in so
games, but Napoleon is the MatheWsCu |
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 A. Benton is one I
az the widest left handlers, having /
walked Il in IS games,
The widest HEAVIER in captivity is the |
Pirates expensive Marty OToole who /
has passed 80 batsmen in q games /
while Kaler. the Cleveland White Hope
another right handler. has walked SO in /
% games
In 1911 Mathewson walked IS In As
games hit but a single batsman ana
made but two wild pitches He has
allowed t72 hits SO far this season. Il
somewhat grelter number than most
OF his right-handed rivals but tine
times when he gets in trouble from IN
ability 90 control the bah are mighty
few and Far between johnson has al
lowed only IA bits In his % games.
while Joe Wood has held his rivals 10
100.