The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-18
MATTY BACK, SPOILS
BEAUTIFUL DREAM
Worlds Series Between Giants
and Paris Green Sox All
Off, He Says.
FRENCH NO BALL PLAYERS
Are Poor Infielders, Worse
Batters, Will Not Go Be-
hind Bat!
FRENCH NO BALL PLAYERS
nv FREDERICK G. LIEB.

Those pretty dreams of a worlds
,,res in 1925 between the Giants and
m. Paris Green Sox went up into thin
air Yesterday. Capt Christy Mathew
,on. astwhile Big Six" Of the pitching
,sak at the Polo Grounds, returned from
france on the Rotterdam and put the
kIbosh on stories OF the Gallo adoption
Of baseball.
The French never will take up base
bail in a hundred years." said Matty.
"A Poilu would rather catch hand
grenade than a hot liner. and he rather
han get in front of a hard hit grounder.
No, baseball is not Frenchman's game /;
am convinced of that. They say II is
100 rough, and call II brutal
Big Six Is the last of the baseball
cfhcers in the Chemical Warfare Service
10 get back from France. the others
being Major Percy Haughton, former
resident Of the Braves: Major Branch
hickey, president OF the st. Louis Ma
.onas, and Capt. Tyrus Cobb Of the
Tigers Matty entered the service in the
-losing weeks OF the 1913 season and
spent most OF his time in France, train
Ing at Chaumont He was just about to
each the front lines in the Toul sector
when the armistice was signed. Capt.
Matty proceeded to Washington after
lAnding here.
French Afraid to Catch.
II don't know what will do with my
eas education" laughed the former idol
Of the Giant fans. Perhaps can start
gas school for umpires and teach them
how to gas players when they try to
step on their toes"
Returning to the efforts OF the French
TO play bail, Msthewson said some poilus
did try TO play the game under Ameri-
can tutelage. but made little progress.
They are terrible In their infield work."
said Matty, ''as the grounders hop by
hem before they know Il. They have
fhown some ability at base running, but
rou have to put them on the bases In
order to give them a chance to run.
They can't bat
Here Matty chuckied. But the catch
ing is what they are most afraid OF.
There is something terrible to them
about the man who puts a mask on and
traps chest protector around him.
ion't think you could find the making OF
a catcher in all France. Whenever you
ould get fellow who was game enough
70 put on a mask he would want a wire
Eastman and handy dugout to take
etuge In.
Where We did get some Frenchmen
. play few innings we always had to
supply them with the catcher. They
ire wonderful fighters those poilus.
Fighting Is their game, but not baseball"
Nathewson paused for another laugh.
g he told how two doughboys blocked
raffc In a French town with a game OF
atch. They were tossing the ball back
nd forth on one side OF the street and
here was a lot OF room tor people to
ct by. but nobody tried TO get past
finally somebody mad to tell them to
auit SO that the town could go about its
business"
Undecided Absut Future.
Mathewson had little to say about
lis future, and declared that he would
ave to get his bearings before de-
ding He said he heard in France that
Fat Moran had succeeded him as man
ger Of the Cincinnati team. Asked IL
were true that he would come to the
ilants as a coach. Matty replied. 81 am
2 free agent, and have received offers
rom no clubs.
However, I always have considered
View York my home. l played In New
'ofk during practically my entire
'a!eer and II is home to me-"
MatAewSon was told thai the Ma
lonal League had acquitted Harold
hase his first baseman in Cincinnati.
the charges OF crookedness. which
Natty lodged against that player last
Augus' Matty refused to pass any com
nent
Capt Mathewson's experiences in
rance evidently agreed with him. as his
ace Is fuller than It ever has been
"hd ne has taken on a lot of weight
f.hce ne last was seen on the Polo
irounds in Cincinnati uniform. Math-
'Eson said he took part in several games
france and even tried to let out
rs arm Matty does not know how long
viii be retained in Washington. or
men Uncle Sam will give him his re-