History Lesson # 1 - The Christian Gentleman

I think that it is time for me to offer brief history lessons on players, and managers, and the game in general, in hopes that for the folks that read this blog will have a better understanding of the building blocks, and where the game has been.

The Christian Gentleman

So I thought for sometime about a point to start out on, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Pete Rose, who ?

I decided to let people in on a little known secret, about this guy who pitched in the dead ball era. His name was Christy Matheson, and he was better know in his day as the Christian Gentleman, and he pitched for the New York Giants. John McGraw's favourite player, he said, of all time.


Matheson was one pitcher, if was said, kept a book on many hitters, which was unheard of.  Cy Young of the Bostons, said  I just throw it hard, and I don't a damn who's at bat.  Matheson recorded what pitches that Honus Wagner handled easily, and he noted what arm angle, speed and follow through worked effectively. Wagner it was said did the same of pitchers, and so a constant battle raged, both players adjusting.

Christy reported through 8 different pitches, fade aways, drop balls, and rise balls, now commonly referred as fork balls, sliders and cut fastballs.  He had Greg Maddux's plate coverage, Saberhagen's change of speeds, and Koufax's ability to find " that extra spark " or giddy up.

Many of Matty's records stood in the National League for years. Walter Johnson held most American League, and what neither of them held, weren't worth holding, according to Ring Lardner.

I won't trivialize him with recanting his stats, I leave that to the geeks, and sabrmetricians of the world. Just let's say that for 20 years he was in National League without a peer. But for many a child growing in the 1900's he was their idol. 

Parents who hated their boys playing this game were pleased to let their sons comb their hair, eat the some food and pattern their baseball delivery after Matheson. His wife said he was a good man, but he was no goody goody.

He won 373 games, and finished up with a career ERA of 2.13. Admittedly the era ( 1910's ) was not a hitters era, but many parks had no fences, just roped off areas where fans would stand behind.

His final game was in 1916, and Christy entered World War I , and suffered from mustard gas in France, and he eventually died at 45 in 1925.  He was pretty bad shape in 25', and he told his wife that nothing can be done, so if you want to go out and have a cry, do not make it a long one.

Matheson was also credited as one of the whistle blowers of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. He was along side the reporters, and kept a note book of suspicious plays. He then wrote the commissioners office and sent in his notes, which were used in the trial.

He appeared in 4 World Series only winning once but limiting the opposition to a 0.97 earned run average.

He is to be remembered, and I gladly kick off this summer of baseball history.