Baseball is here!

Like a kid just “itching” in anticipation to open up his/her birthday presents, the arrival of spring conjures up the same level of expectancy for the diehard baseball fan. It has been more than 5 months since the final out of the World Series signaled the end of the last baseball season. At that point in time, a sad feeling always comes over me, as my favorite pastime takes its break, and I know that this thing that has sustained me through the spring, summer and fall will not be there for me through the long, cold dark winter. No one to cheer for. No one to cheer against. No fantasy baseball team to tinker with. And certainly nothing decent on TV to watch to take over 2-3 hours of my day. Sure there are other events in life that keep me going through this period - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Christmas, New Year’s, Chinese New Year, Groundhog's Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, the Super Bowl, March Madness, etc., but life is just not the same. Ok, I’m being somewhat dramatic, but if you had this “sickness” that I have (at least I can admit it!), you too would understand my feelings. So you can just imagine my excitement as the winter chill dissipates and spring finally does arrive. That can mean only one thing to me. Baseball season is here! Now, be honest, are these feelings normal or do I need some serious help?

Photo courtesy of:
Conlon, Charles M. “Jimmy Gralich Imitating Matty”. (c. 1913) Baseball's Golden Age: The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon. By Neal McCabe and Constance McCabe. New York: Abradale Press, 1993. p. 17.

Here is a research question for you. In reference to the photo above “Jimmy Gralich Imitating Matty”, who is the "Matty" that the photo refers to? This question is worth 10 points. Good luck!