The Washington herald., 1917-07-20
CHRISTY HAS Done
WONDERS With REDS
Matty Has Lifted Cincinnati Team
from Ruck IN Few Months,

New York, July 19-Christy Math-
ewson has made good as a manager.
He has accomplished the wonder of
wonders in the role of chief skipper
of the Cincinnati Reds, and his sue
cess stands out as one of the notable
features of the 1871 season.
Those who doubted Mathewson's
ability to make a go of it in Red
willie did not harbor doubts because
they thought he lacked ability, but
because Of the fact that the Reds
have been chronic losers for so long
that lifting them out of the ruck
looked like an impOssibilty without
wholesale shskeup in the team.
But Matty has fooled 'em all. He
has developed the Reds from the gut
ter within a few short months, and
has accomplished it without adding
great deal of new talent to the
club. Matty has a few new players
in Redville. but the majority of his
players were on the .CinCy payroll
when he took the reins late last sea-
son.
When Matty left the Giants to pilot
the Reds there was an immediate evi-
dence Of new spirit in the playing of
the team Hs- was made manager
before Cincinnati invaded the East
for the last time in 1916. and the fans
in New York. Boston and Philadel-
phia marveled at the snap and ginger
displayed by the crstwhile listless
Ohioans
During the winter Matty made a
few deals The acquisition Of Short
stop Kopf. Dave Shean and one or
two others, followed by the signing
OF Jim Thorpe, marked the extent of
his operations in the player market.
lie said he had confidence in the
Cincinnati club because il had show
ed its willingness to play ball for
him during the last few weeks of the
1915 race. and he went quietly on
his way, predicting nothing, but ex-
pressing hopes that Cincinnati had
seen her last OF the National League s
basement apartment.
FandOm wanted to see Matty make
good. but fandom was as full of
doubts as the ocean is of salt. No
one thought for a moment that July
would see the Reds climb into
fourth place in the pennant race
seventh place was the very best that
vas predicted for Cincy. No Won
der the bugs marveled. No wonder
Cincinnati fans commenced TO hold
up their heads and take the liveliest
interest in the team that they have
Cvinced for years.
All the credit for the showing of
the Reds must not be handed to
Ntatty, however. He deserves the
big share Of it, and he is getting all
that IA coming to him. But the play
ers must come in for a share Of
praise, too, for after being used as
the National Leagues doOrmat for
so long time they have made a
comeback that shows admirable
spirit
Aatty may not manage to finish in
the first division this year. although
there Is no telling what those Reds
may do II they finish their second
Eastern invasion in good form. But
Matty has pulled the Reds out Of the
ruck, and he has a ball club that can
walop the ball and put up a cork
ing game in the field. The Cincy
pitchers. particularly Fred Toney,
are showing rival National League
clubs a world of stuff, and It looks
now as il fifth place will he the low
est berth the Reds will accent this
year. while they stand better thar
an. even chance to hold a lease on one
Of the first four places when the race
comes to a close.