The sun., 1919-01-05
DAN DIE D1NAONrS owned by" MRS GRACE
MATTY'S FINDER IS
INFLUENZA VICTIM
George White Recommended
Great Pitcher to Late
John Thrush. ---
ANDY FREEDMAN BALKED

George White. the man who has been
given credit for discovering Christy
Mathewson, died recently at his home IN
Cincinnati Of influenza. How the Buck
nell College pitcher was uncovered in the
sticks. how he was shunted of by Gin
ctnnati without 80 much as a real try
out and how he eventually became the
property of the New York club. In whose
service he became the peer Of pitchers,
Is related herein.
White was an umpire IN the Virginia
League in 1900 While calling strikes
and balls in that circuit the Cincinnati
man noticed the hne work of big
youngster with the Norfolk team OF the
diamond in the rough and advised the
Reds to sign him.
Eddie Aschenhach. then manager of
the Hampton, Va. team. also sent sew
eral letters to john T. Brush, then
president OF the Cincinnati club. on the
same subject. The Virginia League soon
went to pieces and Aschenbach and
White came North. looking for new
fields TO conquer.
White met Mr.. Brush in Cincinnati
and told him of the husky twirler. who
had just graduated from Bucknell Col
lego, and suggested that Brush wire him
at Factoryville. Pa. The pitcher. Of
course. was Christy Mathewson. Brush
pa ssed the tip along to Andrew Freed
man, then owner Of tho Giants as this
new story OF Matty's discovery goes
Freedman made the purchase from Nor
folk. .'
Matty Joined tho Giants near the
close Of the 1900 season. There was the
controversy often told Of over his pur-
chase price. with the result that Freei-
20 at 10
Cincinnati took Matty at the draft price.
later turning him over to New York ir
exchange for Amos Rus!e. He was the
one real player left on the squad when
John McGraw took over the management
of the Giants, and his work since. -
course, Is a matter OF baseball history.
Nathewson was not the only good
ball player white unearthed In the
bushes and recommended for advance
ment. He and Aschenoach were jointly
responsible for many discoveries, ana
speaking of Aschenbach, there were few
better Judges OF baseball than he. A
dozen stars Of the big circuits got
stared ont on the road TO fame and
fortune through the superior judgment
OF the Cincinnati scout
81 want to tell you about fellow
who pitches them 30 hard that he
knocked the catchers glove over the
fence said AschenDacn 10 lofn LoituS
years ago in recommending n pitcher
to Canton. Tom went to get the fellow.
hut Patsy Tebeau Of Cleveland beat
him out That pitcher was Cy Young.
There Is n fellow SO full OF pep ana
speed that he ought to be on the race
track" said Apchenbach to Cincinnati
manager in telling him Of player on
the Augusta, Ca. team years ago. "Get
him for the Reds. I think can buy
him for you" Ed had an option on the
player for S2,5CO. That player ''a' Ty
Cobb.
Up in New Brunswick Aschcnbach at
tended a game in the ball park at vt.
John. He watched a big catcher and
liked his looks. After the game he APP
preached the backstop and asked him
IL he wanted a job. The hefty man OF
the catchers mitt told him that he did,
saying he could get his release for 800.
Aschenbach could not raise the cash and
the player got away from him. The
player was the former star OF the Reds
and Giants. Larry Mclean.
Nick Altrock. one of the best pitchers
ever turned out in Cincinnati, also got
started under Aschenbach.