Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-21
MGRAW GOT BEST OF BIG
TRADE AND ALSO RELIEVED
HIS OWNERS OF OBLIGATION
Giants Strengthened by Getting Herzog, While
Club Will Not Have to Garry Matty for Several
Years at Large Salary
BY CHANDLER d. RICHTER

once again John McGraw, aided by the
~ owners OF the Giants, put one over on
the seven other clubs Of the National
League, with Cincinnati the greatest loser.
1t is true that the Reds got man to pilot
the team who may prove the very manager
for whom the Redlsnd fans have waited
all these years, but that does not discount
the master stroke of McGraw and the New
York owners.
Any way one looks at the trade which
sends Mathewson, Roush and McKechnie to
the Reds in exchange for Buck Herzog and
Wade Killefer, It is apparent that New York
got all the best Of II. The Giants are the
gamers even II both Herzog and Killefer
should fall to make good This sounds
rather odd, but 1t is true, nevertheless,
Chrlsty Mathewson pitched for the Giants
since 1901, and during that time performed
so many wonderful feats and was Of such
service to the club that the fans OF New
York idolize him. II had been established
beyond the shadow Of doubt that Matty's
pitching days were over when McGraw
traded him. Therefore. he was of no use
to New York; but that did not release the
owners from the debt they owed Matty.
Was Well Paid
The famous hurer was we'll paid for the
wonderful work he performed for the
Giants, but there is enough sentiment in
the fans to have insisted that the New
York owners retain Matty on the payroll
for several seasons. not at small salary
but for just about the same amount he is
receiving now.
McGraw and Hampstead knew that Matty
was through as a pitcher soon after the
season opened, but they also knew that Il
would be impossible to release him, even
II they SO desired. Comlskey, owner of
the White Sox Is carrying Ed Walsh on
the payroll because Of the service he gave
the club years ago. The fans of Chicago
demanded this. and Comiskey's sense of
loyalty compelled II.
Murphy's Trouble
Comiskey also realized that II was the
unconditional release of Mordecai Brown
from the Cubs and the shabby way this
wonderful hurler was treated that started
all the trouble for Charley Murphy In Chi
cago, Murphy eventually was driven from
the game Cat least as an active flEure),
and such would have been the fate of
Hampstead II he tried to get rid of Mathew
son within the next three or four years
But instead of doing that the New York
owners killed two birds with one stone.
They relieved themselves of contract
which would soon be a burden and also got
great ball player. The money paid Her
zog on his three-year contract already has
been saved by transferring Matty TO the
Reds.
Herzog Is to receive $4,000 a year for
three years and this seems like an enor-
nous salary. 1t is really an enormous
salary, considering that the baseball war
is over but when one looks at It from the
same point of view that Hampstead has II
really is dirt cheap, and here is the rea-
son:
A Great Player
In return for the SIC, 900 a year the New
York club receives the services of great
player, but one who can be disposed of
without fear of criticism II he fails to
make good. If the deal had not been made
the New York club would have been Obliged
to pay the same amount to Mathewson.
who could be of little use to the team ex-
cepting a coach
The acquisition of Herzog will bolster I'm
one Of the weak spots of McGraw's team
and will give the Giants the best intield In
the National League, but IL the object of the
deal was to put the Giants back In tho race
we believe 1t will fail. New York makes
enough runs to win under ordinary con-
ditions, but cannot get far without better
pitching.
1t really Is odd that a great hurler such
as Toney or Schneider was not included in
the deal Then 1t would be almost a GER
tainty that the Philles would not repeat
President Terer probably will deny 1t be.
cause he always has played fair, but II is
a fact that every magnate in the National