New-York tribune., 1916-07-25
Matty of Cincinnati Will
Be the Whole Show
There.
FANS WILL MAKE 1T
A NEW YORK HOLIDAY
Big Six Will Lead Fight Against
Giants, Who Are Making
the Last Stand.
By GRANTLAND RICE.

lnOSe VINO are WOuueIlhE NHtNhVi VI
not there is any sentiment left in base
ball are requested to report at the
Polo Grounds this afternoon. Then
they will wonder no longer.
For this is Matty Day on the old
battlefield-a queer title where for the
first time in seventeen years the Giants
are coming home with the name of
Mathewson Oft the payroll.
Matty leads his Reds against Nc
Graw's Giants. but the ball game is Of
secondary interest. The main point
happens to be that this is the first
good chance New York has had to show
its appreciation for what the Old Boy
has done for the big city through
nearly two decades. The wealth of any
city is measured only by its happiness.
So Matty has added lot Of wealth to
this community since 1900 on at least
Ss5 occasions, the span of his
victorious starts.
But the tribute 70 be paid this after
noon TO Mathewson isn't tribute 10
The tribute goes TO the skill, courage,
brains and clean living that made these
victories possible.
From the beginning he was favored
of the gods. His name alone gave him
something of a start. As Zcek Squiggs
part Of the lustre would have been lost.
Then, in a physical way. he was good
to look upon-over six feet, well built,
well featured and a striking figure in
any crowd.
With this he had the stuff-a fast
ball and grand curve in the younger
days-s crafty fadeaway for the later
years.
Had Unusual Brain.
A great right arm wasn't all Added
to this was an unusual brain that
made a study of opposing batsmen
and directed the arm in the proper
way. He might have had all this with
out reaching any such heights if at
the same time he had not been blessed
with two other esentials-the courage
to use what he had under the extreme
test and the patience and determina-
tion 10 develop what he had to its
ultimate limit.
This seems 10 lie quite q lot. but it
doesn't outline yet the complete re-
sources Of this man. He might have
had all that we have named-skill,
courage. brains, good looks, patience
and determination-an still have fall
en- short of his present height. But he
also had the moral stability to live a
clean. wholesome life and a high con-
duet OF sportsmanship beyond any re.
proach upon the field. In other words,
beyond all his skill, courage and
brains he had character and color-an
impelling magnetism that caught the
fancy Of his country.
And then he had his share of luck
the luck to be traded from Cincinnati,
facing a destiny of defeat, to New
York, just rising from the depths. He
was able to start with the help of
club that McGraw had built around
him. In Cincinnati he would have
been a great pitcher-but his fame
there would not have been as great as
it is to-day. So this is why New York
to-day intends to pay its homage and
its respect to Christy Mathewson-no
so much for what Mathewson has done
for New York. but for the way he did
il and FOR what he has meant to the
nations leading sport.
4 Great Combination.
about as much stuff. There have been
others with brains and courage and re-
sOurcefulness who lived clean lives and
were high type sportsmen. But there
has never been another who had as
great a combination to work with, who
was so well blessed by the dispensing
fates. which is why the name Of
Mathewson is No. ! in the pitching
roster of the game.
There is still another reason why this
Eill be quite an afternoon. As Mathew
son passes out Buck Herzog makes his
third entry with the Giants. Herzog,
through his skill, courage, brains and
aggressiveness, has always been held
in high esteem around this vicinity, and
he comes at a time when he is sorely
reeded For after all the fans main
interest lies in the Standing of the
Clubs The Giants to-day are nine and
onc-half games from the top-a hard,
weary climb with only nine weeks left
in which to do the climbing As they
were rugged up first they had no chance.
But now, with Herzog and Sallee add
ed, there is still hope left in the fan
attic breast Somewhere between now
and October New York must pick up at
least one game a week on Brooklyn and
Philadelphia. II is no part of a light
undertaking. But there is always the
chance. with so much power at bat, with
McGraw on the lines and Herzog in the
The Answer Soon.
Anyway. this home stay will develop
most of the answer. II the Giants fail
at home as they have failed before
their chance Will be over for the year.
For. unlike the Braves in 1914, they
do not happen to have but one club in
the way. They have three strong con-
tenders TO beat-the same three that
took good care of the first three tiers
last season. So the only chance now is
TO move along at $50 clip or better
for the rest of the year.
II will take over ninety victories TO
win a National League flag this season
The Giants have now seventy-three
games left TO finish first they will re-
Qure at least fifty-two more victories