Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26

Matty has been treated by specialist
all winter and he has assurance that he
will not be bothered as he was last
summer by the pains he speaks of, but
the great pitcher confesses he is not
certain of himself II he is cured as
some believe he is sure to be of much
value to the Giants in the coming cam
paign, but there is no use concealing
the fact that prospects are not bright
for Matty, and the chances are this will
be the final training trip of his career
as pitcher.
Matty pitched splendid ball during
the season of 1914, and he finished so
well that it Was generally conceded
that he would come back as good as
ever in 1915, but he was a dismal fail
ure on the rubber last season and there
is no assurance that he will be able to
pitch this year.
Mathewson has a wonderful record
to h. credit, one which in many re-
of the national game. He became a
major league pitcher in 1900, when he
Joined the Giants. In the following
year he began to show his remarkable
skill by winning twenty-five out Of
thirty-seven games. He had an off
year in 1902. winning but thirteen
games out of thirty-one. but in 1903 he
won thirty and lost thirteen. 1t was
in 1904 that McGrsw won his first PEN
nant for the Giants. and Matty won
thirty three games and lost twelve lin
this campaign. He made an even bet
ter record in the following campaipn
when he won thirty-one games 49,
lost only nine. Matty then scored a
memorable triumph in the world series
with the Athletics. pitching three
games, all of which were shut outs.
Slowly but surely the old boys are
dropping out Of the game. Joe Sugden
is the latest to go. For several years
he was scout for the Detroit club
and went to camp with the Tigers in
the spring. He was let out and Joined
the scouting forces of the st. Louis
Browns But Fielder Jones has decided
10 have no head hunters. 80 Joe loses
out. Jones main worry right now is to
get rid of players rather than obtain
many new ones, and most OF the men
he is sending away go on option agree
,nents. so that he can depend on this
material for recruiting purposes.
Detroit will have scouting force. but
probably a reduced one. Mike Finn.
who was one of the leading sleuths
last year. is to continue. but will re-
strict his operations to the southwest.
Some time ago it was said that Finn
was at Little Rock hospital lowering
between life and death, but he has re-
covered and expects to spend the sum-
mer at Beaumont, Tex, which club he
will manage.
Though Hans Wagner was forty-two
years old the other day, he still is
figured on as being one of the best
shortstops in the major leagues. The
veteran still displays agility in his
fielding and continues to be one OF the
most dangerous of hitters.
The game has never seen his equal
and il would not be at all surprising il
Hans had another good season before
him. He has wonderful record in
more ways than one. He has led the
old league oftener than any one else
in the matter of hitting and he has
been a gentlemanly player in every
sense of the word. and has never been
hooked up in a ball field brawl.
Judged from the pictures which the
New york papers are printing OF Jess
willard as he stepped from the depot
in New York yesterday, the big cham
pion is far from being in poor health
in splendid condition. The severe cold
from which he suffered. while, in Chi
cago evidently has been conquered
Jess says he weighs 25S pounds. He
expects to n8ht at ABOUT ten -pOuhos
less He has plenty of time to make
that weight and still be at his best.
Arthur Irwin. former scout and bust
ness manager of the Yankees, will act
! as business manager of the Toronto
/ club Of the International Lea gue this
! year. James J. McCanery. the club
| president has enlist ed IN the Canadian
| landsturm. a sort of civic guard of On
| tario's capital. McCarery. a commits
| stoned officer Of the regiment. will de-
| vote most OF his time to military pur-
suits In future and will leave the ex-