The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-30
Big League Gossip
CHRISTY MATHEWSON
Cincinnati Rods
CHRISTY MATHEWSON


tho Cincinnati draft meeting. and II
was the consensus OF opinion al tha'
time that the season should be shorten
ed from two 70 three weeks.
This Is going to make ADHERENCE IN
salaries II it goes through Not only
would X mean on. and perhaps two less
pay-days during the season but II looks
! as though there Is going to DO gradual
downard revision in the rate Of pay.
Practically all Of the war time con-
tracts have run out and naturally the
; boys arc worrying little about next
year. Only few OF them know where
they stand and this uncertainty Will
prevail for. some time. l hardly think
there vii! he mary now contracts sign
ed before the holidays.
The club owners have their worries.
TOO. Many of them are losing good men
in the draft and still other players are
volunteering. There will DO a dearth
Of young men in the training camps
base ball camps. l m"an-ncxt spring.
In fact. II there should be a postpone
mcnt OF the official Sig League open
ing until May lst. only f"w clubs
would go South. 1 imagine. l know the
Reds could train about as we'll at home
| in April as anywhere In the South.
Speaking Of how baseball fans weary
Of the game in the fall and hunger FOR
, il in the spring. reminds m" Of the old
story that illustrates the average ball
players enthusiasm in the spring. II
: is an overdrawa example, but Il fits
lot Of fellows I know.
a led who was not did enough TO vote
but stlll Big League veteran OF ono
season. showed up At. 4 training camp
early one spring Flo mad asked 70 he
one OF the first 10 go. because he was
tired Of the cold winter and crazy 10
get Into action.
After two days Of light practice tho
manager picked Two teams and had a
game. our hero blew himself "a base
hit. While the ball was being returned
! to the pitcher the young man stood on
first base yawned, strrtchor his arms
above his head aid turned 10 the coach
er.
Gee. wish the season was over" he
said.
SOC where Fan johnson wont through
with Il and IS arranging his affairs SO
"a 10 be- able tn lehv" for France hy
Christmas. That's the sort Of mnn he
IS.
II was his lden to go into active ser-
vice with the army. but understood his
!. friends IN the war department persuaded
I him that he could serve his country bet
| ter by accepting An appointment; 10 IN"
/ NJ the commit stnri7 now being organized
! to carry on the business OF war.
! johnson IS not saving much but h" !"
going TO give ny life Job n $4,000
a year to fnce an uncertain future. And
j he is a mnn n"ar or past tic,y. call
/ his 4 real patriot.
John McGraw Is not talking much
base ball. and 4 don't bIam" ham. Re"
| member. il has been twelve y"Hrs since
! Mac won l. worlds cham ni"n~hir. H.
must get credit for always being In
! there trying. However. his disapp"nt-
ments have BEEN many. and II" feels each
! one keenly.
| McGraw is good loser. hut that does
MT make him like the short end know
his ambition received An awful jolt In
1914, when the Giants flunkcd out Of II
| championship they should have won by
| the middle OF August.
| Mac had already won three consccu