Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman

Nearly a century after his final major league appearance, Christy Mathewson is still considered one of the greatest right-handed pitchers in the history of baseball. Mathewson ranks in the top ten among pitchers for wins, shutouts, and ERA, and in 1936 he was honored as one of the inaugural members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Playing in the early twentieth century, Mathewson was the nation’s first All-American hero, a man of Christianity inspiring the values of millions while bringing dignity to a game that had previously been reserved for rougher characters. In Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman: How One Man's Faith and Fastball Forever Changed Baseball, Bob Gaines delivers a close and personal look at the extraordinary life and soul of a gifted man living in a unique time. After growing up in a loving, Christian home and attending Bucknell University under the careful watch of his childhood pastor, Mathewson struggled to find his footing in the unsavory world of professional baseball. Seen as an “intellectual college boy” whose shy personality was misinterpreted as an aloof arrogance, Mathewson’s faith and character were put to the test. Through strong will and an unusual partnership with John McGraw—a manager his exact opposite in everything but a desire to succeed and a fervent belief in God—Christy became the most admired and respected man on his team. Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman features details on Christy’s childhood and college years not documented by other sports historians—information discovered by the author in Mathewson’s hometown, the churches he attended, and college archives. Including timeless images, this book brings to life Mathewson’s amazing career, faultless character, and unwavering faith.

New York Giant pitcher Christy Mathewson accumulated an astonishing 373 wins during his 17-year career, 1900–16, and he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame with Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson. At a time when baseball players were perceived as one step above criminal, The Christian Gentleman, as Mathewson was known, stood out as devout, polite, and intelligent. Gaines draws on dozens of books, news articles, and historical documents to piece together an impressively detailed, if at times cumbersome, narrative of Mathewson’s life, emphasizing his glory years with the Giants. Alongside fiery manager John McGraw (neither a Christian nor much of a gentleman), Mathewson led the Giants to five National League pennants and, in 1905, a World Series win. There are plenty of more readable biographies of Mathewson available, including Ray Robinson’s Matty (2003), but this one is notable for its emphasis on Mathewson’s strong religious faith (he refused to pitch on the Sabbath) and may have special appeal to readers interested in iconic Christian athletes., Gaines' new book ... Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman: How One Man's Faith and Fastball Forever Changed Baseball is an eye-opener., [Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman] is an entertaining read that may provide inspiration for Christian baseball fans or 'Matty' enthusiasts[.], If you want to learn about the life and character of the American icon Christy Mathewson, read this book. Deftly written and superbly researched, the book plows significant new ground and is full of new insights, anecdotes, and stories about Big Six, his faith, his beloved wife Jane, their son Christy, Jr., and his remarkable and enduring “odd couple” friendship with John McGraw. It’s simply a great read for anyone with even the slightest interest in the history of our great game., This book was time well spent. I learned things about Christy Mathewson, about baseball and about life. A magnificent look at the life and career of a true game-changer.

Bob Gaines was an award-winning sportswriter and columnist for The Times-Advocate (North San Diego County) before he became the director of development communications at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. He edited The Beauty of Bucknell (2001) and has been the key writer for hundreds of university publications.