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


~ EN AORh, Jan. lU.-CnrlsIy
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 a big prop
osition
Yes, Matty, who has smoked
pipes. cigars and an occasional
, cigarette ever since he Joined the
Giants, over a 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, ne 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 habit that he
thought was detrimental 10 him and
in outguessing opposing batsmen
on the green diamond.
Christy Mathewson is lust as
strong mentally as physically. 1t
Is that strong combination that has
made Matty what he is.
There are certain baseball fans
but most of them do not hang ND
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.
nave been fortunate enough to
have been with Mathewson wear in
and year out, and from day to day
throughout Mathewson's entire
baseball career I was with him
when ne started as big Lacquer
and have been with him ever since
remember full well when Aiatty
was beaten by Yale i'm the last in
ming of Il game at the Polo grounds
when he was young recruit. and
Hatty was accused of being a quit
ter. didn't think so and I said
50. pronounced him then as the
t'At~A4NI CT l4Idk llIile IN Inc
National league
Won First Eight Games.
After that inauspicious opening
of the season, Matty came back
and won his first eight games in
the National league championship
season and l think five tf those vic
tories We're shut-outs. Was | right
or was | wrong?
And ! feel just Is much conf
dence in Christy Mathewson for
next season as did when he was a
Giant bud
Mathewson is stiu a compara-
lively young man. He may not be
in his prime as an athlete but ne
is as near to being II as any man ~
his age ever was. He is "a. straight
up and down as a Young fellow.
He has always taken the best of
Gaze OF himself and the only ones
who think he f. not jus; as good AS
ie ever was ale those 10 whom tn-
wish j. futile. tp Thought
Mathew.ou :. feared now by Am