Christy Mathewson the Christian Gentleman

Born August 12, 1880 in Factoryville, Pennsylvania Christopher “Christy” Mathewson also known as the “Big Six”, “Matty” or “The Christian Gentleman”. Christy played during the Dead Ball Era in the Major Leagues and was a right handed pitcher. He attended Bucknell University and was a member of the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta and played for their football and baseball teams. Although Christy was very athletic in many sports, baseball would be his game of choice. In 1899, Christy signed to play professional baseball with Taunton of the New England League and later traded to Norfolk team of the Virginia Carolina League. During this time the New York Giants purchased his contract for $1500, while displeased with Christy’s record, the Giants demanded their money back and returned him to Norfolk. Later that year the Cincinnati Reds drafted Mathewson in the Rule 5 draft.

Mathewson and the Giants won the 1905 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics, during this series Christy was the starting pitcher in Game 1 and pitched a 4 hit shutout for the victory. Three days later, with the series tied 1-1, he pitched another 4 hit shutout. In a span of only six days, Mathewson had pitched three complete games without allowing a run.

After his spectacular career in the Major Leagues Christy joined the United States Army during World War I and served as a Captain in the newly formed Chemical Service along with Ty Cobb. During a training exercise he was accidentally gassed and developed tuberculosis, he would later spend his life fighting the illness. In 1925 Christy died from his illness in Saranac Lake, New York and was buried at Lewisburg Cemetery in Pennsylvania. Christy was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.