Christy Mathewson

During his remarkable 17-year career (1900–1916), Christy Mathewson was the dominant pitcher in the National league. His 373 wins stand as the third highest total in baseball history. Mathewson was a gentleman, a rarity in the raucous world of baseball at the turn of the century, and a favorite among fans.
Game by game, the remarkable career of this Hall of Fame hurler is analyzed. Interwoven are tales of his personal life and the colorful characters who were a part of baseball in the early 1900s—like John McGraw, Joe McGinnity, Rube Marquard, Bugs Raymond. Appendices give records and milestones. Includes illustrations, notes, bibliography and index.

Ronald A. Mayer is the author of several books on baseball history. He is retired and lives in East Hanover, New Jersey.

Ronald A. Mayer
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 380
Bibliographic Info: 29 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008 [1993]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4121-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8123-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Preface      xi

1. Factoryville to New York      1

2. Inauspicious Start, 1900      9

3. Rookie Season, 1901      18

4. Saved by McGraw, 1902      36

5. First 30-Game Season, 1903      50

6. First Pennant!, 1904      67

7. World Series Hero, 1905      86

8. A Bout with Diphtheria, 1906      108

9. Most Victories in National League, 1907      127

10. Most Career Victories, 1908      147

11. Lowest Career ERA, 1909      169

12. Most Victories in National League Again, 1910      186

13. M and M Boys, 1911      201

14. Tough World Series Loss, 1912      221

15. Masterful Control, 1913      243

16. Last Great Season, 1914      263

17. The End is Near, 1915      281

18. Farewell Matty, 1916      295

Appendices

Appendix A: Milestones in the Career of Mathewson      311

Appendix B: Mathewson’s Lifetime Pitching Record      313

Appendix C: Mathewson’s 373 Career Victories      314

Appendix D: Classic Matchups: Mathewson vs. Brown      339

Appendix E: Mathewson’s Career Victories vs. Opposing Teams      340

Appendix F: Mathewson’s 24-Game Winning Streak vs. St. Louis      341

Appendix G: Mathewson’s 22-Game Winning Streak vs. Cincinnati      342

Notes      343

Bibliography      353

Index      359

“wonderful…excellent…belongs on all of our shelves”—The Inside Game; “an informative overview of baseball at the turn of the century”—AB Bookman’s Weekly; “the ultimate game-by-game account of one of baseball’s first great pitchers”—Houston Post.