The Washington herald., 1913-09-05
|MATTY TYAFIXTURE
in NTHEBIG SHOW
"Big Six" Called an Institu-
ton by Veteran Base
ball Writer.
HE Is STILL KING OF ALL
Is Dear to the Hearts of All Fans, and
Mainstay Of MeGraws
Giants.
HE Is STILL KING OF ALL

New York, Sept. AT an informal
gathering of newspaper men in New York
the other day the topic of baseball was
being discussed. The name Of Mathew
son figured prominently in the converse
| tion, as is inevitable whenever the ma
tional pastime is the theme. After most
Of the scribes had borne their testimony
as to the personal and professional
worth of big Six an old baseball re-
porter put cap on the eulogies by re-
marking:
"Mstty isn't mere baseball player
he's an institution"
That remarkable tribute was hailed
with delight, as being a most apt ex-
PLANTATION OF the Giants great twirler.
There are a number OF stars in base
ball at the present time who have made
and are making a marvellous stand
against the inroads OF time. Prominent
among these may be mentioned Hans
Wagner. Napoleon Lajoie, Eddie Plank,
and Mordecai Brown.
Mntty StiII King.
But of them all Matty is putting up
the most brilliant opposition to the raw
ages of the years. The best that the
others are doing just now is holding their
own. They are holding Father Time on
at arms length, but the old fellow is
close enough to them TO worry them In
their playing. But in the case Of Mathew
son IL Is different. Instead OF stopping
TO spar with the old gentleman with the
scythe he is going steadily on-improY-
ing his game-mastering his technique
and acquiring the supreme artistry Of
the mound
This year Of 1913, which many had
thought would mark the last OF his active
service, finds Mathewson again at the
- h. aA Aad
craftiness. He is an artist, and all true
artists never cease striving to improve
their art-and they never cease loving
IL. Who can look upon the eager, smiling
and boyish countenance Of Matty as he
stands in the box and say that he does
not love the game?
The position he holds in the esteem Of
the baseball fans and the public at
large, which, OF course. is the same thing,
is unique. II a vote were taken to-
morrow to settle the question as to who
is the most popular man in organized
baseball. there is no doubt but that
Matty would carry the election by a
large majority.
McGraw Needs Him.
What would happen to McGraw,"
asked this same old scribe who had
characterized Matty as an institution.
''if he were to incontinently fire Mathew
son after the manner OF Murphy in CIV
ing old Mordacai Brown the gate?'
The concensus Of opinion was that II
McGraw did such a thing he might just
as well lock up the Polo Grounds. That
Is Just how close Big Six is to the
hearts of the baseball public.
But there is no danger of John ].
ever doing such a thing. In the first
place he is not a Murphy in any cor,
puscle OF his compact being, and in
the second place Mattys art will con-
tinue in his head long after It has de-
parted from his arm, and as a mere
instructor he would be more valu able TO
McGraw than the average twirls~ Is on
the mound.
Is there a boy on any SAND lot in
the United States who wouli have to
inquire who was meant when the name
''Matty'' was mentioned?
Mathewson is a true sportsman. What
could have been finer in spirit than his
words and actions when, in the last
worlds series. two victories were kicked
away from him by the ineptitude of his
teammates robbing him OF the supreme
laurels in baseball, for which, so far as
he believed he would never have anoth-
er opportunity to compete? The splen-
did magnanimity he exhibited then is one
OF the reasons why he is in the game
now, an artist and true sportsman, first
in victory. first in defeat. and first in
the hearts OF the fans.