Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-27
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

NEW YORK, April Z1.-t Chrlst9
Mathewson answers the call OF the
United States soldiers in France and
the war work council of the Y. M. c. A
to take charge of base ball among the
American and Canadian troops "oVel
there" the Clark Griffith ball and bat
fund will obtain something it has need
ed since the first batch of goods snip
ned overseas distributing agent. Al
though Matty's departure would mean
a great sacrifice on his part in leaving
his family and business affiliations and
u,ou1d cause a lot of trouble for the
Cincinnati ball club, including large
monetary loss, it matters little II ne
ran accomplish genuine service abroad,
Al work that another less prominent In
the game could not perform so well, Tor
The health and happiness of our SOL
diers comes before everything else al
this time.
Nathewson, the Cincinnati club. the
National League and base pail IN gen n
the Reds manager. He virtually mas
been drafted by the demand OF the
American troops in France. ana II Y
unlikely he will do anything e4cep.
gladly and willingly acknowlease Tn.
S;~h tribute paid him. There are many
notable figures in the game who wouio
fairly lump at the opportunity present
ed to the former master pitcner. 49,.
Although considerably o o.aeI y ea tha
NIathewson and. unlike the IDEAL OF ine
GOODS invested in base ball, Clark Crit
fith would like nothing better tnan 20
assume the task offered the Reos
leader. Griff realized ne can oe ..
more aid to the troops by SAVING On
This side and raising money for equip
ment. but is planning to team up Win
Watty by sending him all the parapher-
MALTA and letting him apportion II
where it is most needed; TINS proVloeo'
Of course, that Christy goes to france.
Cincinnati pilot congratulating him on
the honor accorded him by the can
from the troops and requesting that IN
the event he goes abroad ne assume tne
task of receiving and dispensing 70 on.
soldiers overseas all the equipment
shipped abroad This work has been
turned over by Gen. Pershing to the
Y NJ G. A. force in France and now Is
being handled by it. but with man OF
Mathswson's experience and ability IN
charge Griff believes much better re-
suits could be obtained.
II NAV be regarded as doubtful that
Hal Chase will be put in charge OF the
Reds in case Matty should go 70
fered to him, as it was before Matty
was obtained. He declined. with
thanks, then and will in all Likelihood
refuse again, as the peerless nrst sack
er has had one hectic session in man.
he cannot Shoulder its trials and tribu-
lations without degenerating into a
very mediocre player. Johnny Evers
might be offered the assignment. The
Trojan at present is idle as far as base
ham is concerned. although he Is as
of the contract he holds with the Red
sox.
Acquisition by the Yankees of Tom
Starke. the veteran National League
catcher, is taken to mean that Miller
Higgins is framing deal to strength
en- his rickety pitching staff. New York
already possesses a full complement OF
backstops in Walters. Hannah ana
Ruel and has no need Of Clarke. Wash
catcher to M the void which may oc-
cur any day now with the departure Of
Ed Charity suggested the possibility
that Grfn might do business with Hug
gins. but the latter is seeking only
pitchers, and the Nationals have none
to offer There are only seven hurlers
on Griff's staff now, according Molly
Craft the distinction Of being termed a
sure enough pitcher. and this young
man. as we'll as Yingling and Du Mont,
are in class one of the draft. the lat
ter's number being SO close up that he
probably will be with the team only a
few days longer and may leave even
before Charity does. Yingltng may
linger for some months yet. but with
Du Mont and Craft removed from con-
sideration there would be remaining
only the two southpaws. Yingling and
Harper, and johnson, Shaw and Ayers.
Grin has a deal on the fire which. II
put through. would give him prom
Using catcher who has had one brief
crack at work in the majors. This
athlete. who was too young to be re-
duired to register for military service
last June. is good hitter and has
a strong throwing arm. He has been
seen in action by the Washington pilot
and would fit in admirably as under
study for Ainsmith. but in order to
obtain him Grifr will have to induce q
certain young shortstop to go to the
the infielder in question has refused SO
far to do 80. For fear of the possibility
of blocking the deal Griff has request
ed that the name of the club and play
ers involved be withheld for the time
being.
Another drive for the sale of liberty
bonds was held at the Polo Grounds
yesterday when Lieut.. Marty Michale.
former big league pitcher. directed the
appearing in current Broadway pro-
auctions.
Last evening fans who have sought a
chance of getting in close touch with
their favorite ball players were given
the opportunity a a war exhibit in a
local armory, Walter Johnson. Benny
Kaun. Frank Baker and other celeb-
rites of the diamond being present to
boost the campaign. There also was
a large delegation of ball players from
the Washington, Giants. Yankees and
Garden to see the Stecher-Lewis
wrestling match.
Liberty loan day produced a crowd of
more than $500 cash customers to see
the Nationals for the first time this
season win two games hand running.
the tally of yesterdays matinee at the
Polo Grounds being to 4, with the
Tanks on the short end. The GrifYmen
continued to compile errors, four more
being recorded by as many athletes In
the course of the melee. What is more
ma intained the heavy attack they have
been exhibiting recently. a total of ten
ssfe blows being recorded. Ray Morgan
leading with trio of swats and Lavan
and Shanks getting two apiece. Incl
Aentally. Johnson appeared in his
fourth game of the year and chalked
no his first victory against the three
defeats charged to him.
As on every one Of the five previous
occasions the Yanks had met the Ma
fionals in this campaign. the boxmar
selected by Manager Higgins failed &c
70 the route. This time it was the
rookey Bob McGraw who started fol-
the home folks. The hurley young