Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-20
BASE BALL HISTORY
MADE BY VET STARS
Deeds of Walsh, Young, Wag-
ner, Matty and Lajoie Will
Live for Many Years.
ALL ARE SENSIBLE HEROES

They might be called the big vet
cram five OF base ball Christy Mathew
son, who has become the Red man
agcr after sixteen seasons of pitching
duty with the Giants; John Henry
Wagner. the famous Dutchman, who
still. plays shortstop wonderfully well
tor the Pirates. although he is ~ years
old, Napoleon l.ajoie, of the Athletics
the once peerless second baseman,
who is rounding out his twentieth year
in the major leagues; Ed Walsh, the
renowned White Sox twirler, whose
star is fading in his fourteenth season
i'll fast company, and Denison Tecum
sch Young (Old Cyl, who pitched
twenty years in the big circuits.
Some Feats, Alright.
Future generations of fans will read
OF their exploits in base ball history,
but it is doubtful if they ever will see
the equals of these pillars of the ma
tlunai paStime. Other noted veterans
could be mentioned who will carry
into retirement the respect and affec-
ton OF the great base ball public, but
the Big Five provide sufficient ma
terial for the story. Did you ever read
or hear of scandal involving these
players? Did they ever indulge i'll
disorderly conduct on or off the ball
field? No, they took good care to save
some of the large salaries which the
magnates gladly paid to them.
Clean living and physical training
made it possible for the Big Five to
outlast hundreds of younger men who
refused to take base ball seriously and
squandered their earnings. Many
promising kids came into base ball
with bright prospects only to fall by
the wayside because they did not
avoid evil companions. Wherever pro-
fessional base ball clubs are operated
it is easy to find thoughtless persons
who obtain happiness and amusement
by inviting young players to drink
liquor and stay out late at night But
the Big Five never fell for such
temptations, with the result that today
theyare plentifully supplied with
money, enjoy robust health and num-
Der their admirers by the thousand.
Liked All Over.
Matty is more dearly beloved of
New Workers than the other members
Of the Big Five. He has been the idol
OF fans here since he began to show
his remarkable pitching skill as a
Giant in 1901. He won twenty games
that year and thirteen in 1902, but
after that he did not score fewer than
twenty-five victories in any campaign
up to 1915. 1t was i'll 1908 that Big
Six won thirty-seven games, his best
performance, while in 1904 he pitched
thirty-three victories. Matty took part
in four worlds series-in 1905. 1911,
1912 and 1913, His magnificent pitch
ing in the 1905 series enabled the
Giants to win three of their games
with the Athletics. In other words,
Matty practically beat the Mackmen
that year single handed
The Athletics beat Matty twice in
three games pitched by him in 1911.
while in 1912 the Red Sox scored two
victories over Big Six, also playing a
tie game with Christopher in the box.
Again in 1918 the Mackmen, facing
Mathewson twice, broke even. The
inventor of the fadeaway won twenty
four games and lost thirteen in 1914
without he slightest indication of los
ing his remarkable skill.