The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-17
Big League Gossip
CHRISTY MATHEWSON

made under stress OF temper is sub
mttted to cooler judgment before ii Is
released.
notice McGraw Is playing Jim
Thorpe in right field frequently when
lefthanders arc operating against the
Giants. This indicates that Jim will
horn into more one Worlds Series game.
for I have an idea the Giants will face
Russell and Danforth at least once and
possibly twice.
All Of the Reds will pull for Thorpe
to make good II McGraw calls on him.
We all know the game fight the big In
dian has made for several years to over
come his batting weaknesses, and I hope
It can be said that his brief career with
the Reds last summer aided in his i'm
provement.
can say one thing for Jim Thorpe
he is dead game. His mistakes are Of
the hand. not the heart. Not only dos
he stand up there and refuse to pull
away from the plate. but he keeps Up his
courage. DESPITE the fact he realizes the
sucker for curve balls. but one per-
son who has never admitted that Is Jim
Thorpe.
Fans perhaps do not realize Thorpes
position. Here is an athlete who can do
everything we'll. His fame has gone
around the world. He made himself pro-
fcient In sports by hard work Then
came his sudden entrance into baseball.
He was beyond the stages Of early de-
velopment. But the determination that
made him the worlds greatest all
around atlete still animates him. lie
soon measured up To Big League stan
dards In everything but hitting. and for
four years now he has worked to over
come that defect.
Thorpe has been q splendid batsman
In the strongest minor leagues. He isn't
afraid of any pitcher. Perhaps one rea-
son he never got started in the National
League until this summer. was that the
Giants always had other outhelders who
could outhit him.
I took Thorpe last summer because I
needed an outfelder badly. He came
through for the Reds by playing every
day. Whatever success the Reds enjoy
ed In the first four months Of the sea-
son. Jim Thorpe contributed his fair
share.
I wish him all the luck in the world!
I see where the deadly comparison
bug Is at work again. The Giants AMI
White SoS are being contrasted in every
conceivable manner. ! don't rely much
on such dope" 1t has never been ac-
curate where the teams were evenly
matched.
must disagree with the comparison
experts in one detail. They all admit
the Giants will he far outclassed behind
the bat. Not because McGraw's catchcrs
are Inefficient hut because Rag SchaiK
is so clever.
Schalk IS undoubtedly the class OF the
American League. He is one of the great
catchers Of all time. cnncndc ever:
claim made for him. At the Same time
I rio not believe tho Giants will lose
through poor backstopping.
The papers tell mo Lew MrCarty is
coming back rapidly. and will be in good
, shape for tho series This means great
deal to the Giants. Put two more weeks
or work under NcCartys belt and elm
mate his limp. and I'll guarantee he
will give n splendid account OF himself
At present he Is handicapped by his
, inability TO run. He favors the leg he
broke in Cincinnati last spring. and. in
tight games. when he reaches first base.
McGrav has 10 take him out and put In
a substitute to run. They tell me.
though. that Lew Is getting fastnr every
day. and will be able to do his own rund
ming
Bill Rariden ia steady man. hard
worker and a dangerous hitter. George
Gibson will be on deck to work with
.hC'Fu" PlISfeIS' ana he IL no Hio'' u
behind the bat even now. But I look
| for McCarty to do the bnlk OF the catch
/ Ing. for the reason that he Is aggressive
| and never loses confidence.
\ catcher with a chip on his shoulder
and disconcertlng lin" Of chatter i. 4
! big factor In short series. Aside from
these things. McCarty is one Of the best
hatters in the National League. He Is
n hard man to fool in a pinch. and when
he does meet the ball. he generally belts
| 1t for extra bases.
Speaking of catchers. the Yankees ara
Eoinr to try outS1 new system next SoA-