  Sato, the only member of the Jap nation at the university that year, had not attended any of the games at Lowell up to this time, but the excitement around the school caused him to follow the crowd one day, and afterwards he wrote home to Prince Igo, his father, his impressions of the great National Game as follows: “Baseballing is great college sport presently. I walk to-day much distance to where town ceases and come against high board fences; also law guardian, from which issue big noises frequent. Then silence great. Soon of each more. I ask law guardian why such yells. “He reply, ‘It is the fans. Man came home.’ Am now desirous also to welcome traveler’s home coming. “‘Away long time has gentlemen been?’ In interrogate. “He answer, ‘Been long time since he came home before.’ “Then I approach said gates of welcoming and enter one saying grand stand, giving printed pasteboard to much red-faced man at door. “He destroy said printing and present to me one-half; “I proceed along walkboard continuous until emerging into great pavilion where persons numerous are all sitting in seats many, but I see not the fans law guardian promised, though it is day warm very. Presently spectators make grand stand shouting the Big Banzai as honorables in white suits run very hard. “‘What is it?’ I remark to enormous German intelligence on left. “‘Another man home,’ he correspond. “I am much enthusiasm also. It is more august noise than Russian surrendering. “Presently, Mr. Gray Pitch lift strong arm holding white ball of much hardness high. Another Gray Mr., the Hon. Catch, has responsibility for all balls Mr. Pitch shoot and he try to stop all. The ball shoots with swiftness great so Mr. Catch wear large cushions on hands, also bird cage on face, with boards in front of legs. Third Mr. what they call Bat is positioned in front Mr. Catch to make impossible said stopping by hitting ball. “Of a suddenness Mr. Gray Pitch preparation himself for enjoyable spasm. Ball holding high, he make large twistings, himself turn half way, leg raises and quickly shoots little ball straight at Mr. Catch’s head. Hon. Bat makes large effort vainly. “‘Strike one,’ gleefully announces Hon. Empire in loud voice. “Again Mr. Pitch make necessary, twists preparation to his shoot. Mr. Bat fail making attempt but Hon. Empire cries agonizing, ‘Struck two,’ at which thin Irish spectacles on right speaking violently remark, ‘Robber! Thief! Kill the Empire!’ “I look expectant to witness demise of Hon. Empire, but it happens not immediate. Much disappoint I feel, having extreme good sitting for witness such scenes. Then, think perhaps it later will occurrence when dark. “Once more Mr. Gray Pitch causing ball shoot fast. But Mr. Bat watching very close. He make “All grand standers now project loud shoutings of ‘Make slidings, Mr. Run. Make big slidings, Oh run,’ and answeringly Hon. Run sliding on his stomach to No. Two cushion, but Hon. Empire wave his hand and say quickly, ‘Out’ and Hon. Run then walk with much slowness and mutterings of words to waterpail and drink. “Presently when Hon. White Suits are much weary from hittings and slidings they exchanging places with Hon. Gray Suits and Gray Suits play Mr. Bat. “The Mr. White Pitch try to make great original twistings and shoots. Mr. Gray Bat finds hitting impossible and Hon. Empire says, ‘Struck three, out.’ But now the Hon. Irish on right do not cry ‘Robber! Kill him!’ Himself and all others surrounding make more standings and cheer Mr. White Pitch magnitudinous and say, ‘Oh, you pitch!’ “After more twistings by White Pitch, Mr. Next Bat walk leisure to one cushion. Mr. Third Bat likewise. “Suddenly boy diminutive with large voice in front say, ‘Get the hook’ and then Mr. White Pitch drop was white ball and retire and I wait for him return “‘Fowl,’ say Empire and three runnings of white suits. I arise to look at white suits chasing fowl, but impossible to see account front rows standing on seats. Next yellings, ‘He’s got it,’ and sitting down of all, and I see Mr. Big Pitch holding ball upraised, but no chicken. I think they catching fowl outside for big dinner to homecomers. “Now Mr. Second Bat run quickly to three cushion and Mr. Now Bat propel ball with stick very far; but Mr. White Field catch quick and throw to Hon. Catch while Mr. Three Cushion occupant running home. “‘Safe,’ say Hon. Empire at which all bystanders yell angrily, ‘Robber! Thief! Hang him!’ I climb nearby post to witness national mode of death and see all white suits surrounding Hon. Empire, but no rope. “Presently all walk away and again I am disappoint, having much finer location for view such interesting proceedings. “Then more of same twistings and runnings by both white suits and gray suits exchanging places until dark, when grand standings make big runnings to outside. “I wait much patiently to see Hon. Empire get hangings now but presently Mr. August Watch come “So I return to domicile.” THE END WON IN THE NINTH A BASEBALL STORY The Famous Pitcher of the New York Giants. The first of a series of Boys’ Stories on Sports to be known as the MATTY BOOKS, by Christopher Mathewson and W. W. Aulick, the well-known sporting writer, who will also act as editor of the series. It is a college story about baseball. The hero is a fine young fellow whom many fans will at once think they recognize as a popular player. He enters a big Eastern University from the far West, gets on the Varsity after many trying experiences, as extra pitcher, but by accident one day it develops his natural position is as fielder and he becomes a star and wins a scholarship, which insures his education. Throughout the story the author describes thrilling moments of actual games, some wonderful catches, and gives many stories, some of them humorous, of famous players and games. He also reveals some of the secrets of “inside baseball,” “signals,” etc., and in a supplement, illustrations and descriptions of the way he holds and delivers his famous Fade-away and other deceptive curves. The description and playing characteristics of many of the hero’s team-mates remind one of famous players of the present day. The author has placed in one college boys who from their ball-playing ability might easily be taken to represent his selection of a first ALL-AMERICAN TEAM and in a rival college the boys whom he might pick for ALL-AMERICAN TEAM No. 2. The games played might also be taken to represent his idea of what would occur in a series between two such teams. Mathewson’s position in the game and his knowledge of the players fit him especially for this, and the book should be read eagerly by players and fans. PRESS COMMENTS The greatest baseball story ever written.—New York World. A mighty good story of college life runs through the book.—Pittsburg Dispatch. Every fan should read it.—Denver Post. A book which every boy from eight to eighty should read.—Boston Globe. 302 Pages, 12mo.Cloth.Illustrated.Price, Net, $1.00
Sales Agents: NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY To the Reader The next in the series of MATTY BOOKS will be a Football Story by the same author. Matty was, during his college days, as great a football player as he is a pitcher to-day. If you will fill out this blank and mail to us, we will give you advance notice of the date of publication of the football story. R. J. BODMER COMPANY AND AS HELD AND DELIVERED BY ILLUSTRATIONS BY COURTESY OF Mathewson’s Fade Away Ball—The ball is held lightly with the forefingers and thumb, and a slow twist is given to it. It sails up to the plate as dead as a brick, and, when mixed in with a speedy straight or in-ball, causes the batter to often strike at it before it reaches him. It is a “teaser” for the third strike. HOW BALL IS GRASPED FOR START OF THE “FADE AWAY.” THE BALL LEAVING THE HAND AS IT GETS THE FINAL TWIST OF THE WRIST FOR THE “FADE AWAY.” Mathewson’s Drop-curve—His most effective ball, and he has wonderful control of it. In fact, he makes it “talk.” The two forefingers and the thumb give the rotary motion necessary for the curve, while a downward swing and quick snap of the wrist give it the quick dropping kink. Mathewson’s High In-ball—This is a most wicked delivery—the whisker trimmer. The thumb touches the ball very lightly and the forefingers grasp it firmly. This delivery is used mostly to drive the batter away from the plate so as to make the curve more effective. It is a dangerous ball to stand up against. The Straight, Swift Ball—Mathewson gets tremendous speed with this delivery, said to excel that of the famous “Hoosier Cyclone,” Amos Rusie, when in his prime. The arm is swung straight over the shoulder, with no wrist movement. The out-curve is produced usually by grasping the ball with the first two fingers and the thumb, with the back of the hand turned downward. The fingers are pressed firmly against the ball, which is gripped tight. The out-curve may be either fast or slow. The in-curve is pitched with a side-arm motion, the ball being released over the tips of the first two fingers, the arm being swept around with a lateral motion. Some pitchers throw an in-curve by grasping the ball with all four fingers and permitting it to slip over the tips. McGINNITY THROWING AN INSHOOT, THE BALL ROLLING OFF HIS FIRST TWO FINGERS. HOW McGINNITY TURNS HIS HAND TO PITCH A DROP BALL. POSITION OF THE BALL FOR AN OUT-CURVE AS McGINNITY PITCHES IT, THE BALL BEING RELEASED BETWEEN THE THUMB AND FIRST FINGER. HAND JUST BEFORE THE “SPIT BALL” IS FREED, THE BALL SLIPPING OVER THE ENDS OF THE FINGERS OF CHESBRO. ARM FULLY DRAWN BACK TO PITCH THE “SPIT BALL,” SHOWING THE POSITION BEFORE IT IS BROUGHT FORWARD, BY CHESBRO. Drop-curve—The ball for the drop-curve is held in identically the same position as for the out-curve, except that the back of the hand is held directly down, the arm being brought straight over the shoulder at the moment of delivering the ball. Transcriber’s Notes: A Table of Contents (all versions) and a List of Illustrations (browser and mobile versions) have been provided for the navigational convenience of the reader. Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. |
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