I apologize for asking about yet another W-L decision from long, long ago,
but, well, I want to try to understand the rationale behind awarding these
Ws and Ls. The two games cited below make me think that whatever rationale
has been applied has not been applied consistently.

In the May 19, 1891, NL game between Cincinnati and Boston, Charley Radbourn
started for Cincy, helped stake them to a 7-2 lead (with a bunt single and a
three-run double in the top of the 3rd inning), then left for the day.
Radbourn pitched only 2 innings, but left with that 7-2 lead; Tony Mullane
pitched the rest of the way for Cincy. The line score looks like this:

Cin - 1 0 6 0 0 0 4 3 2 - 16
Bos - 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 - 7

Radbourn had 23 CGs in 1891. In those games his record was 11-12. He lost
a game in relief to Boston on July 10, making his record 11-13. That's the
official total, meaning he has NOT received credit for winning the May 19
game.

Now contrast that ruling (if you can) with the ruling applied in the
September 12, 1911, NL game between New York and Boston, in which Christy
Mathewson started (against Cy Young), pitched 2 innings, left with a 5-0
lead (which held up, 11-2, as Doc Crandall pitched the rest of the way), and
WAS credited with the win:

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09122BSN1911.htm

In the two games I've cited, both Mathewson and Radbourn pitched 2 innings,
had 5 run leads when they left, and their teams won by 9. Mathewson got the
W, Radbourn didn't. Not to be disrespectful, but is this simply a case of
Frank Williams liking Mathewson?