• Greg Joens
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Christy Mathewson

Christopher "Christy" Mathewson (August 12, 1880 – October 7, 1925), nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era. In 1936, Mathewson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its "first five" inaugural members. Mathewson was born in Factoryville, Pennsylvania and began playing semi-professional baseball when he was 14 years old. He began playing in the minor leagues in 1899 and had a pitching record of 20 wins and two losses. He began an unsuccessful tenure with the New York Giants the next season and was sent back to the minors. Mathewson would eventually return to the Giants and go on to win 373 games in his career, which is a National League record. In the 1905 World Series, Mathewson pitched three shutouts in the Giants victory. Throughout his career, Mathewson would not pitch on Sundays due to his Christian beliefs. The pitcher also played professional football for the Pittsburgh Stars for a short period of time before quitting. Mathewson served in World War I and died in Saranac Lake, New York in 1925.

3 Comments

Anonymous Guest

Joanie Holliday 19 Jun 2012

Fantastic pencil portrait work Greg.. Joanie

Seth Weaver 19 Jun 2012

Superb portrait and fascinating bio.

Julie Mayser 19 Jun 2012

Such an interesting bio.... I had never heard of this gentleman until now. - a pity he died so young. This is a delightful portrait!

Artist Reply: Julie, he may be related to you also... he has an English ancestry similar to yours and mine. He's my 16th cousin... descended from William the Conqueror's lineage