New Britain herald., 1916-02-24

Christy Mathewson is packing his grip today for his sixteenth trip to the training zone of Sunland.
 The question now is-will this be his last jaunt over Dixies spring bor- der. or will he be able to foil fate for a few seasons longer by elimlnatnS the malady in his left shoulder "hiIo boiling out under Texas skies?
 An Institution.
 Matty, we started to say, was a New York institution. But he is also national institution through the great credit he has given his country leading sport.
 But he is peculiarly q New York 1n- stitution as he has never pitched d lal for any other major league club in his entire career.
 July, 1900.
 Mathewson joined the Giants m July, 1900, and pitched his first game against Brooklyn on July 17.
 In that first battle he lasted but four innings before a fusillade or swats drove him to cover. He made three starts that first campaign and each brought him defeat So his first
  csely 900.
 The March of Time.
 Matty has been going South with the Giants each spring for so many years that few can believe that this may be his last journey to Balloons s sun belt.
 Youngsters, who from the bleachers watched his first games, are now ap- preaching the rim of middle age. He has gone along at such enduring, even strides that few have noticed the march of time.
 In these fifteen years of service Mathewson has worked in over 500 games, an average of 35 games a year, and has put away nearly 400 Vic- tories.
 No wonder Giant fans will anxious " scan reports on his condition as they read daily bulletins announcing the progress of his work.
 The Why of It.
 Why, you may ask, has MatheWson Teen lifted to such a pedestal?
 Because he had the stuff.
 And because, more than that, he has always given his best to the game through clean living and earnest effort. When called upon he was always ready to furnish his share, and a good bit more, in or out of turn.
 And still more, because he mixed more brain with his Drawn than any pitcher in a game that has had smart. brainy pitchers by the score.
 The knowledge that all unusual amount of brains and courage were working in the box on the day he pitched gave Mathewson the bulk of his fame and added immeasurably to the respect in which for sixteen years he has been held, by home and hostile fan alike.
 Close to Everything.
 Mathewson, in his best years, came about as close to having everything as a mere mortal could come.
 You have heard of his brain and his courage; of his fadeaway and his control; of his curve ball and his judgment.
 But with this he also had great sLeed. II have pitched a good many games" he told us recently, "back in the old days-or the young days when l relied entirely upon my fast one. l must confess I like to bust 'em through just to see how fast l could make the ball travel
 He had everything-but what is even more to the focus, he knew how, why and where to use it. The Last Stand.
 Being the sort of an institution he is, there is more than local interest in Matty's battle against Time and Tate at Marlin
 A youngster would have a better chance. But Big Six is close upon thirty-six years of age-nere youth in some professions, but beyond the gray prime of pitching.
 Mathewson himself doesn't know whether he will be able to take his regular turn this summer. But we happen to know that he feels keener about pitching now than he ever felt l. Lefore. As much as he has meant to the game he has never realized before lust how much the game has meant to him.
 Half Strides.