Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-25
MATTY TALKS
ON BIG OFFER
MADE BY FEDS
By cHRlsTY MATHEwsoN.

BY cHRlSTY MATHEWSON.
Until | had definitely signed with
the Giants again, made no comment
en- the Federal league or the offer Of
that organization to me. In fact,
there was nothing definite in the way
of an offer until ! received q tele-
gram from President Gilmore a few
hours after putting my signature to
the National league contract. But even
II this offer. which has been published
in the papers. had been made few
hours before signing 1t would not have
influenced me.
The proposition came out of clear
sky and was unexpected. / have learn
ed since that the Fedefals believed
was signed all winter and that 1t was
not until a New York newspaper man
happened to mention the fact to Gil
more in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in
New York late one Hight that I was
unsigned that any action was taken.
My information comes from New York
correspondents who are here with the
team in Marlin and who were pres
ent when Mr.. Gilmore made his dis
covery. According to these men, the
incident developed through a tanning
bee in the Waldorf Here Is the story
as told to me by New York reporter
now with the Giants in Marlin:
Thought Matty Was Signed.
I'VE were all sitting around the Wal
dorf late one night, tanning and dis
cussing the Federal league when one
of the boys said to Gilmore:
:" Why don't you make Matty an
offer?
Hes signed, isn't he? asked Mr..
Gilmore.
No more than I am. His contract
expired last season, and he has not
signed the new one yet
Gilmore at once left the party and
sent telegram to you. Then he an
nounced his action to us newspaper
men, and the story appeared in the
papers the next day"
As matter of fact, never consid-
cred going to the Federals and did not
answer the telegram, WHICH did not
make any definite statement of terms.
1t merely asked me whether / would
consider an offer to go with the new
league as manager. When the Los
Angeles reporters inquired about the.
possibility, told them the only thing
there was to- say-that would con-
slider the offer But all the time I
knew ] would not desert the New York
club, which had practically made me
in baseball.
In saying this, | am not attempting
to belittle the Federal league In any
way. / saw several reports In the
newspapers during the winter and
early spring months that I was the
agent of organized baseball on the
coast and that / had been busy coun-
terbalancing the bids of Federal league
agents for the players spending the
winter there 1 kept clear of both
baseball on the diamond and the poll
tics of baseball last winter because I
did not care to have 1t on my mind
was having too much fun playing
golf, and it is not in my province as
merely player to try to influence
others to take certain steps which
some day they might regret and then
blame me for their mistakes.
Wilson Eager for Work.
For instance, Arthur Wilson, the
New York catcher, received big Of
fer 10 go with the Federals with the
promise of large piece of advance
money. Wilson has been pining for
the chance to work regularly with
big league club for two or three years
now and was weary of sitting on the
bench, absorbing information in this.
position about how 1t is done in the
majors. AS / said in a previous arti-
Gle, Wilson even asked McGraw to
transfer him to minor league team
for this season so that he could have
an opportunity to work daily. Now, IL
the Federal league turns out to be a
big success, and If had advised Will
son to refuse its offer and stick with
the Giants, he might have said to me
some day:
We'll, took your advice and am
still sitting on the bench. II had
gone with the Feds might have been
a star now"
Without occupying any more exalt-
ed position than pitcher on the staff
of the New York club, don't want to
NEEDLE in baseball politics or en-
deavor to influence other men in the
game. Whether Wilson made mis-
take, in my opinion, don't care to
say. And / want to add that / con-
slider the Federal league offer to me
compliment.
Counsol-I'u so4rv co,,Idusf do