Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 218, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1917 — CHRIS MATHEWSON MAKES GOOD AS TEAM MANAGER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHRIS MATHEWSON MAKES GOOD AS TEAM MANAGER

Christy Mathewson has made good as a manager. He has accomplished the wonder of wonders in the role of chief skipper of .the Cincinnati Reds, and his success stands out as one of the notable features of the 1917 season. Those' who doubted Mathewson’s ability to make a go of it In Redvllle did pot harbor doubts because they thought he lacked ability, but because of the fact that the Reds have been chronic losers for so long that lifting them out of the ruck looked like an Impossibility without a wholesale shakeup In the team. But Matty has fooled ’em all. He lias developed the Reds from the gutter within a few short months, and has accomplished It without adding a great deal of new talent to the club. Matty has a few new players In Redvilie, but the majority of his players were on the Clncy payroll when he took the reins late last season. When Matty left the Giants to pilot the Reds there was an immediate evidence of new spirit In the playing of the team. He was made manager before Cincinnati invaded the East for the last time in 1916 and the funs in New York, Boston and Philadelphia marveled at the snap and ginger displayed by the erstwhile listless Ohioans. During the winter Matty made a few deals. The acquisition of Shortstop Kopf, Dave Shean and or two others, followed by the signing of Jim Thorpe, marked the extent of his operations in the player market. He said he had confidence in the Cincinnati club because it had showed Its willingness to play ball for him during the last few weeks of the 1918 race and he went quietly on his way, predicting nothing, but expressing hopes that Cincinnati had seen her last of the National league’s basement apartment. Fandonr wanted ter see Matty make good, but fandom was as full of doubts

as the ocean is- of salt. No one thought for a moment that July 4th would see the Reds climb into fourth place in the pennant race. Seventh place was the very best that was predicted for Cincy. No wonder the bugs marveled. No wonder Cincinnati fans commenced to hold up their heads and take the liveliest Interest in the team that they have evinced for years. All the credit for the showing of the Reds must not be handed to Matty, however. He deserves the big share of it, and he is getting all that is coming to him. But the players must come in for a share of praise, too, for after being used as the National league’s doormat for so long a time they have made a comebuck thut shows admirable spirit. Matty may not irianage to finish in the first division this year. But Matty has pulled the Reds out of the ruck, and he has a ball club that can wallop the ball and put up a corking game in

the field. The Cincy pitchers; particularly Fred Toney, are showing rival National league clubs a world of stuff, and it looks now as if fifth place will be the lowest berth the Reds will accept this year, while they stand bettep than an even chance to hold a lease on one of the first four places when the race comes to a close.

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Christy Mathewson.