Christy Mathewson, the Christian Gentleman: How One Man's Faith and Fastball Forever Changed Baseball (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781442233140)

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.

Author: Bob Gaines
ISBN-10: 1442233141
ISBN-13: 9781442233140
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Language: English
Published: 11/20/2014
Pages: 294
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.60h x 5.90w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 11/01/2014 pg. 10