Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-10
By Sam Crane.
NEW YORK, Jan. 10-Christy
" Mathewson has sworn off
smoking.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1o.-Christy
" Mathewson has sworn off
smoking.
That does not seem a whole lot
to "a whole lot of people around the
holidays, perhaps, who fall off from
their best resolutions with little
adoo but to an athlete, who may
possibly have the championship Of
the National league and the worlds
series supremacy in his strong right
arm, at his mercy, it is big prop
osition.
Yes, Matty who has smoked
pipes, cigars and an occasional
cigarette ever since he Joined the
Giants, over dozen years ago, has
cut ont the weed.
In consequence the great pitcher
is looking better right now than he
ever has in the snow furry months
for many a year.
In other years, between seasons,
Matty has had a pasty complex
ion, that caused his friends and
baseball fans to imagine that he
was not enjoying the best of health
Matty knew that it was too much
smoking that caused the trouble,
and. like the sensible. strong
minded fellow that he is and al
ways has been, he decided to OBJ
viate the handicap to his physical
well being
Matty Typical Athlete.
Christy Mathewson today appears
to be the typical athlete and base
ball pitcher that he proved himself
to be during the last worlds series.
Then Matty was at his best He
did not win a game in the series.
but no pitcher who worked in it
came out with higher honors.
And why? Simply because he
used his head the same as he has
now in cutting out a habit that he
thought was detrimental to him and
in outguessing opposing batsmen
on the green diamond.
Christy Mathewson is lust as
strong mentally as physically. It
is that strong combination that has
made Matty what he is.
There are certain baseball fans.
but most of them do not hang up
their hats in Greater New York,
who have, year after year, predict
ed that Matty was all in" going
back. or was in the throes of
collapse. But no such unfortunate
result has happened-not as FAR as
we could notice.
| have been fortunate enough to
have been with Mathewson year in
and year out, and from day to day
throughout Mathewsons entire
baseball career. ! was with him
when he started as a big Lacquer
and have been with him ever since
| remember full well when Matty
was beaten by Yale in the last in
ming of game at the Polo grounds
when he was young recruit and
Matty was accused Of being a quit
ter. | didn't think so and said
so. J pronounced him then as the
'NSN EJltNAAtt al tldl llIlt IN tut
National league.
Won First Eight Games.
Aftey that inauspicious opening
Of the season, Matty came back
and won his first eight games in
the National league championship
season and think five Of those vic
tories We're shut-outs. Was / right
or was I wrong
And I feel Just as much conf
dence in Christy Mathewson for
next season as did when he was
Giant bud
Mathewson is still a compare
lively young man. He may not be
in his prime as an athlete. but he
is as near to being il as any man ~
his age ever was. He is as straight
up and down as a young fellow.
He has always taken the best Of
care of himself and the only ones
who think ne is not just as good as
ne ever was are those to whom The
wish is father 80 Thought.
M Hfr..#....4r.