, 1923-07-01
BASEBALL STARS
ENDING CAREERS
At z EXTREMES
M~athewsonC Club President
Chase with Greasers.
BY I. E. SANBORN.

~ l. L. oRANoSNAN
In parallel columns Of the same pa
per appeared two knau items which
were significant because Of their con.
trast and their i-ustaposition. One of
them told of the return to his ONCE
OF President Mathewson Of the Boston
Braves after a fortnight in the Adiron-
dacks. The other said the NoEalez
team Of Sonora, Mexico, had signed Is
manager Hal Chase. former major
league star"
The contrast was striking One OF
them was honored In a position close
to the top OF his profession: the other
was close to the jumping OF place
Yet It was only a comparatively few
years ago tina these two stars were
teammates. with equal opportunities to
win fame and esteem
Not that Chase ever attained the
exalted position on the diamond that
was occupied by Christy Mathewson
when both were active. It was Chase's
own fault, however. that he does not
stand out as preeminent among the
first basemen OF the past as Big Six
does among the pitchers. The former
had as much natural ability and skill
as the latter. Chase had all the brains
necessary to develop and use his abil.
ity to tho Limit.
Mnthewson Gave His Best
Otherwise they were exact opposltes.
MAthewson gave his best always to his
team. his manager, aud to the game
Chase worked always for himself and
his own financial benefit. A written
contract was a scrap Of paper IL he
could better himself, and his triendz
were the wrong kind OF bankers. That
is why We find one OF them at the top
and tho other at the bottom OF the
baseball ladder IN their middle age. II
there isn't a sound sermon in that for
the new generation OF baseball play.
crs and the budding future greats. we
ave another guess.
II Is unfortunate in a way that II Is
not a Mathewson instead OF a Chase
who will have n guiding hand in the
development Of the national pastime
in old Mexico. Visitors to the revo-
luton torn republic TO the south OF
US have been amazed by tho recent
strides baseball has made there and by
the enthusiasm OF the natives for II
Sportsmen from the United States IA
found a warm welcome below the Rio
Grande. In recognition Of the official
courtesy shown him on n hunting trip
and to help In the development OF base-
ball there, President johnson Of the
American league recently presented to
the Mexican government a handsome
and costly trophy. to be awarded on
cially as an annual prize for the ham
pion team of Mexico.
But II the Mexicans are TO learn
thelr groundwork in baseball from for.
mer major league stars who have been
dlscredlted or barred from organized
baseball in the States. they may &C.
qulre the wrong angles. 1t has been
noted that the average alien. in learn.
Ing the Yankee language, acquires irst
and most easily a vocabulary OF our
cuss words. It might be better for
baseball II u southern neighbors
learned II from he sporting instead Of
from the financial angle.
Black Sox as Teachers.
It would be unfortunate II the out.
casts OF the former White Sox stellar
aggregation should gravitate toward
Mexico in search of easy money as
kindergarten diamond Instructors. The
ambitious youngsters OF tina country
now ave as their ideals. typihed by
the bronze figures on the Ban Johnson
trophy, two great and highly honored
Players in George Sisier and Ray
schalk. But these bronze figures cane
talk. n the men who teach the MeN-
cans baseball will have to.
1t might be unwise to attempt 70
exercise the authority of organised
baseball to tho extent OF barring CHASE
and the so-calied Black sox" from
Mexican teams. Our southern neigh
bors are sensitive to anything that
nigh Eavor of alien Interference with
their games. But II Is worth whiia
for the men most interested IN our
nations pastime to advise the
.Mexicans where they may find veteran
players who would not scorn a civ
ing wage" for teaching the young
Mexican how to bat or pitch and at
the same time inculcate the IDEAS OF
square sportsmanship and honest com.
petition.
There are such old'time players who
need the money and who once were as
famous. although not as notorious, as
Hal Chase ct al.