Arizona republican., 1921-10-01
NEW YORK FANS
 HON0R BIG SIX WITH MEMORIAL
 BASEBALL GAME
[sepubIIcan A. ?. Leased wIre1


 SARANAC LAKE. N. Y.. Sept. 80. -Christy Mathewson. for fifteen years the idol of baseball fans, re- mained at sSaranac Lake today, while thousands of baseball enthusiasts gathered at the Polo Grounds. New York city. scene of many of Mathew sons triumphs in baseball. to pay tribute to him.
 ,Mathewson, one of the greatest pitchers known to baseball. past or present, has been here for more than a year, fighting the greatest battle of his 1ife-that against tuberculosis. The hero of championship races in the National league and of worlds series games, too, was anxious to att tend the testimonial to him, but be- cause of the long distance he would have had to travel and the confusion which would have attended the dem- onstration for him had he done so, he was persuaded to remain here. In 'ssspirit. however, he was there. R Showing the same high purpose and iron nerve that carried him to |. victories and placed him on the highest pinnacle in basebaifs hall of lame, Mathewson today is winning his fight for life. A year ago last July he came here in quest of health. He was here only short time when he became seriously i'll. He was in bed for 13 months.
 But Mathewson has fought in the sick bed as he had fought on the baseball fields. And today his battle for life appears to have been equally as successful as his struggles on the diamond. Today Mathewson looks like the Mathewson of old. He ap- pears to be normal in weight and so greatly has he improved in health r that now he Is permitted to take automobile rides and short walks in the village. Hell soon be allowed to go anywhere.
 Last month was perhaps one of the happiest in Mathewson's life. On August 12, he was 41 years old. And, he says it was his 'happiest birthday He passed the day quietly with Mrs. Mathewson and their son, Christy. IT.. and received messages from all parts of the country. congratulating him on fis long uphill fight for health. and wishing him a speedy re- yovery.
 Despite his long Illness. baseball is ytill the subject closest to Mathew yon,s heart. He has followed very closely the pennant races in the two big leagues. New York's feat in coming from behind in the National league race and passing Pittsburg brought much joy to Mathewson, as did telephone conversation he had with John McGraw. manager of the Giants, after New York had defeated Pittsburg in the second game of their last series in Pittsburg. 1t was as a member of the New York Ma tional league club, under McGraw' s rnanagement, that Mathewson achieved his greatest honors in base ball.
 Mathewson's brilliant pitchins helped the Giants to win the National league pennants in 1904, 1905. 1911 1912 and 1913. In the worlds series of 1905 against the Philadelphia Americans. Mathewson pitched three of the five games played. won al three and did not allow Philadelphia to score in the 27 innings. record unequalled in any worlds series The defeat of the Giants in 1911 ant 1913 by Philadelphia and in 1912 b. the Boston Red Sox was no fault o1 Mathewson. Indeed. baseball expert. declare that Mathewson pitched th' best ball of his career in the series of 1912 only to be beaten by errors
 Mathewson today sent the follow. ing message to the fans through th' committee in charge of the testimo nial game:
 .On this day of days at the Pol' Grounds l am glad to send hearties greetings to my baseball friends. Is absolutely impossible for me to pu into words my feeling of pleasur and gratitude at the manner in whicl the New York club and friends Q baseball are honoring me, but 1t Ter tainly is good to have friends who d not forget and who remember S substantially. With such support
 cannot fail to win my game. Here hoping that the Giants win Shelrs.