Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-30
FANS PAY TRIBUTE
TO ABSENT MATTy
----
Big Six Spends 6Ay at saranao
Lake While Giants Play
Benefit Game
TOO WEAK TO TRAVEL

Saranac Lake, n. Y, Sept. 3d.
Christy Mathewson, for fifteen years
the idol of baseball fans In America
remained at Sarnnac Lake todny, whiie
thousands of baseball enthusiasts gath
ered et the Polo Grounds, New York
CITY. scene of many of Mathewson
triumphs in baseball, to pay tribute 10
him.
Mathewson, one Of the greatest pitch
crs known to baseball, past or present
has been here for more than year
fighting the greatest battle OF his life
that against tuberculosis. inc nero OF
championship races In the Nationhi
League and Of worlds series games
| too, was anxious to attend the testl-
monial TO him but because or the long
distance he would have to travel ana
tho confusion which would have at
tended the demonstration for him had
be done so. he was persuaded to remain
here. In spirit, however. he was tnere'
Showing the same high purpose and
IRON nerye TINT carried him to victory
IN many pruelling baseball struggles
ond nIeced him on the highest pinnacle
In hasebull's hall of fame, Mathewson
todnv is winning his fight for life. a
vcar nr, last July Mathewson came
here in quest of health. He was here
only n short time when he became
seriously i'll. lie wns in bed Tor thir'eeh
months.
Likensd TO Diamond Days
Rut Mathcwson has fought in the
sick bed as he Lad fought on the oase-
hall fields. And today his battle for
life appears to have been equally rs
successful as his struggles on the dia :
mond. Today Mathewson looks hke
the Mathewson of old. He appears &c
be in normal weight and 20 great!
has he improved in health that now ne
is permitted to take automobile ride:
md short walks in the village. Hell
soon be allowed to go anywhere.
Last month was perhaps one of th'
happiest In Mathewson's life. On Au'
And. he says, il was his happiest birth
day. He passed the day quietly Will
Mrs. MathGwson and their son. Christy
Jr.. and received messages from al
parts of the country consrntulating hin
', on his long uphill fight for health ant
wishing him n speedy recovery.
And then on August 30 Mathewson
for the first time since he arrived here
appeared on the streets of the village
going to barber shop and chnttin
with persons he met there. This tril
was characterized by his friends as tn
, first step in increase Of exercise, and
, rapid return of strength and hea lth:
. Despite his long illness. baseball !
still the subject closest to Mathewson'
heart. He has followed very closely til
: pennant races in the two big League
! and has often expressed a desire to Sc
1 . hn.,tt, hn
come greatly interested in the fortune
of the Saranac Lake Club this year.
Chesred by McGraw
New York's fent in coming from be
hind in the National League race an
| passing Pittsburgh brought much jo
| to Mathcwson, as did a telephone con
| vcrsatiOn he had with John McGraw
| manager Of the Giants. after New Yor
had defeated Pittsburgh in the secon
game of their last series in Pittsburgh
It was as a member of the New Yor
| National League Club. under McGraw'
| management, that Mnthewson achieve
| his greatest honors in baseball.
| Mathewson's brilliant pitching helpe
the Giants to win the National Leagu
| pennantS in 1904. 1905, 1911, 1912 an
1913. In the Worlds Series of 100
against the Philadelphia American
| Mnthcwson pitched three of the fl,
games played, won all three and did n,
allow Philadelphia 10 score in twenty
seven innings, record unequaled
any Worlds Series. The defeat of ii
Giants in 1911 and 1913 by Philadel
phia and in 1912 by the Boston Red Sc
was no fault of Mathewson. Indeed
baseball experts declare that Mathew
son pitched the best ball of his care,
in the series of 1912. only to be beatc
by errors.