a question, for folks that promise not to Google or research

[G1911]

I believe Wid was also one of Branch Rickey’s scouts, and his glowing reports on Jackie Robinson’s performance at Kansas City played a big role in Rickey choosing Jackie specifically to be the barrier breaker.

[FrankWakefield]

As a snot nosed kid, I first collected coins, then added stamp collecting, and eventually added baseball card collecting (kid style, not what we now do). I still look at stamps once in a while, and covers (envelopes). I once got an early US Airmail cover that was also sent as Special Delivery. For stamp collectors, it had a C5 airmail stamp, and a special delivery stamp, and lots of backstamp cancellations showing the cover's progress.

With all that said, I saw this air mail Registered cover on eBay several weeks ago.


https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679794853

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679794922


In the eBay listing, neither W. C. Matthews, nor the Chicago Cubs, was mentioned. But I could see that whoever Matthews was, he was in the front office for the Chicago Cubs. Obviously, I won the cover, just under $10. So now I'm curious about who was W. C. Matthews.




He was the GM for the Cubs, I read... he was the GM that had a big trade to get Ralph Kiner away from the Pirates. And he played baseball in his younger days. Great... Can I find a picture of him? Can I find one of his cards? Yes, and Yes.


https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679794954

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679794976

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679794995

[FrankWakefield]

To my short term consternation, I determine that Wid Matthews is on ONE card. Only one... 1924 Exhibit card. I learn this from The Sport Americana Baseball Card Alphabetical Checklist. I'm telling those interested to get the 5th edition, it has a green cover, it's less than an inch thick, it has a 1992 copyright, and best of all, it isn't filled with thousands of 21st century players. I can look up old players much more easily. My guess is that if you get a new edition it's almost multivolume size, and if you have a 1st or 2nd edition you'll encounter a few errors... Anyway, there on page 285 is an entry for:

Matthews W. C. (Wid)
21Exh-102

Grrrr... only ONE card.

I'm encouraged. I have a couple of dozen of those early exhibits. They used to be all together, using that 'they're all from 1921' logic, although I later resorted them into multiple bunches consistent with how Mr. Lemke sorted them, 1921s, 1922s, and 1923-24s. So I'm thinking I may well have one of those.

But I didn't.

I listed in the BST thread, that buyer be ware / caveat emptor pit... and do we regularly think of those old Exhibit cards as W cards??? That's where Mr. Burdick placed them. I could see a few folks looked at my Want To Buy listing, but no one posted nor offered.

So is anyone out there selling one? Yes Sir, there's one on eBay. At what I considered a very high price. Which I paid. It was kind of a Karma thing to balance out the good deal I felt like I got on the Cover.


https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679796108

And I'm happy with that card.


Wid Matthews made it to the major leagues in 1923, playing in 129 games for Mr. Mack's Athletics, he hit .274. He went from Philadelphia to Milwaukee (AA) in the off season. In June of 1924, Milwaukee traded him to the Washington Senators; and two months later they sent him to Sacramento as a player to be named later. The Senators bought him back September 29, 1924, and they had him playing outfield in 1925. Wid hit .302 in 53 games in 1924. In 1925 he appeared in 10 games, had 4 hits (all singles) in 9 at bats for a .444 batting average. He played in the minors into 1931. And he coached and managed, then coached a bit in the majors.

I understand how two teams can make a trade that benefits both teams. But golly, making a trade with Branch Rickey on the other side seems like shooting pool with Minnesota Fats... or playing Michael Jordan in a game to 30, make it take it (unless I got the ball first and slopped one in from 40', I figure I'd lose 30-0, quickly. I guess the Cubs had money and lots of young talent, and they were thinking Kiner still had pop in his bat and could easily hit more home runs in the Friendly Confines.

All in all, Wid was a better outfielder than I ever was. He had a long career in baseball. He was one of our dear pre-war players. And me stumbling across that envelope opened that door of history to me.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

I believe Wid was also one of Branch Rickey’s scouts, and his glowing reports on Jackie Robinson’s performance at Kansas City played a big role in Rickey choosing Jackie specifically to be the barrier breaker.

SABR has a different take, calling him a bit player in the story.

Being one of Rickey’s most trusted scouts in 1945 made Matthews a bit player in one of the most momentous chapters in baseball history: the signing of Jackie Robinson. By most accounts, Rickey kept nearly everyone, even his scouts, in the dark about his intention to integrate the Dodgers. Rickey announced his involvement in the launching of a new Negro league, apparently as a smoke-screen to allow him to pursue black players for the Dodgers without raising suspicion. So Matthews was probably not aware of just how significant his and other Dodgers scouts’ survey of Negro leagues talent was during that summer of 1945. As for his report on Robinson, then playing shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs, Matthews reportedly “had his reservations about Robinson’s demeanor on the field. He was too much of a ‘hot dog’ in his mannerisms, the scout believed, but he thought he was superb at protecting the plate with two strikes on him.”

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

SABR has a different take, calling him a bit player in the story.

Being one of Rickey’s most trusted scouts in 1945 made Matthews a bit player in one of the most momentous chapters in baseball history: the signing of Jackie Robinson. By most accounts, Rickey kept nearly everyone, even his scouts, in the dark about his intention to integrate the Dodgers. Rickey announced his involvement in the launching of a new Negro league, apparently as a smoke-screen to allow him to pursue black players for the Dodgers without raising suspicion. So Matthews was probably not aware of just how significant his and other Dodgers scouts’ survey of Negro leagues talent was during that summer of 1945. As for his report on Robinson, then playing shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs, Matthews reportedly “had his reservations about Robinson’s demeanor on the field. He was too much of a ‘hot dog’ in his mannerisms, the scout believed, but he thought he was superb at protecting the plate with two strikes on him.”

Actual source > how I remember something.