New-York tribune., 1919-02-18

..rv 7. Matty, as he is more ia
"a breadth Of the land where ba
istely for Washington, whittier he
usthewson. doubtless the greatestc
.;,,ber Of all time and certainly one
:, the most honored and respected
.,.vsrs the national pastime has ever
.,oduced enlisted in the Gas and
flame Division of the United States
,rmv at the close of the abbreviated
,,seball season of 1918. He soon
onslifed for d commission as captain.
~ toward the end of September was
,snt TO France, together with Captain
~ Cobb OF the Detroit Tigers and
g,ior Branch Hickey, president
nsusrer of the st. Louis Cardinals.
The srmistice was signed before
ys.hewson and Cobb had an oppor-
spity to smell gunpowder.
Christy Nathewson for fifteen years
spd more has usually commanded his
NIL share of attention, no matter
sbsre he happened to be. Needless to
sv he was one of the really important
.rsonages on the Rotterdam. and more
.,Oecially after the ship had docked
Most every one on hand for the oc-
usion "made" the big fellow before
he hit the gangplank.
Absent, But Not Forgotten
But even while absent Mathewson
las not been forgotten by the news
raper headlines this winter He fur
rshed the reading public much of the
Material around which revolved the
no main dramas of the winter. 1t
Tas he who presented as manager of
The Reds in affidavit form, the charges
vhch led up to the recent trial by the
Ss.cnal League executive of Player
Hal Chase, who is likely to come to the
Giants. And his silence as to cabled
aenes from President August Herr
asnn of the Cincinnati Nationals
sis doubtless the reason why Matty.
Rose contract had expired as Red
sader with the close of last season.
Jss shuntod aside for Pat Moran.
Moran. by the way. was the hero of
he seasons tragedy. The miracle
un OF the Quakers was dropped like
live coal by William F. Baker, with
2. the slightest warning, because he
dn't like Philadelphia so we'll as to
nego Atlantic City's cool breezes
men the club was home.
Nstty. upon his arrival. showed a
I tposition 10 eschew baseball topics,
Y1sng out that he was more or
m I'M amiliar with the game. But
sst he would welcome an opportu
say 70 return to the big town where
as fame and fortune both were deyel
oped he took no pains to camoufage.
"lhaye always considered New York
ny home town" said Big Six" 81
left France free agent. I do not sup
pose it would take much coaxing to
get me back TO the Polo Grounds"
Mathewson absolutely refused to
!iseuss the result Of the Chase trial
II what effect L might have upon his
respective relations with the Giants
case McGraw secured the services
L Prince Hal. It is not believed, how
7sr, that Christy would let person
ltes interfere with his baseball
gIsre. And there is suspicion that
Mathcwson should go to the Giants
i coach ard adviser to McGraw the
i'Te would be bur the first stepping
Zone TO the team leadership.
No Official Oyertures
GcGraw, who has an interest in the
20 Tow, $ anxious 20 get OUT Of
ztorm as soon as possible. With
Asews0ns 3 great virtues he is thor
.lay conversant. But as yet no
Et4l overtures have been made on
ssag hand.
ine Old Master returns in the very
WI Of health and spirits. Indeed he
AAs 70 have taken on weight While
RAINING a. Chaumont he played q
-1oer Of games in company with
ooob and Branch Hickey. Indeed,
.sFen tried out his arm. Mathewson.
..ssssT, IS q me opinion That great
aa O. missionary work VIII have to
Done before the French become
asent ~ the American game As
we tfencnnlan is very timorous OF
1Dail, eltner thrown Or batted, and
81 - a. bat pulls into the water
GG,sss" Base running is ne only trick
@s trade al which the Latin shows
- baseball initiative
sae names Of John ). McGraw and
.H'y Mattewson we're parable
s~N' from the time Mac came here
Ske charge of the Giants in 1902
Az Aathewson was sent TO Cincin-
as manager n mid season Of
~ N big deal that brought Charlie
xHog. then leader OF the Reds, to
roo Grounds Mathewson's star
pitcher had set before ne left
- iofx. Doubtless he would have
salned here TIL he caught up to
'.aet Tine had he not been anxious
- MS hand at the managerial end
s@ss'he~son fell heir to club in the
s1.sland tnat had become thoroughly
"a stgSazed under Herzog He i'm
a'siy established fair order and
s following season, 1917, proved
s,.sy Eat'sfactory to the rabid Gin
{. ~ =. rooters. Indeed. on the eve Of
~ ssao campaign the Reds were seri-
IN regarded as pennant contenders
- most other clubs. Cincinnati
=, 80 IRON war conditions. Fac
sprung up. Toney and Chase
Il .s9 sseaine disaffected, it is said. And
s,si 70 arms took other players
49, &c been counted upon. The Reds
- thoroughly demoralized team
ssssss me halfway mark had been
go nse, zimmerman, the Temperament
.ao DsSeman Of the Giants, called
co., as hlgaed contract at the Fifth
y =. soiicing headquarters yester-
ss 80 ss.sssTnocn. Heinc has wintered
49,. 80 Is fairly chsmping at the bit
III 'of Gainesville, Fla.
ri. ss',sspiY eopidn't resist signing," "
M meme, when I heard where we
d. styaag % train. just wanted
s ssesa 'ns 1pftherest possible distance