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Christopher Mathewson was born on August 17, 1880 in Factoryville (near the New York border), Pennsylvania, the oldest of the six children of Gilbert B., born circa 1849, and Minerva (Chapwell), born circa 1856, Mathewson. At the time of Christy’s birth his parents were living with Minerva’s stepfather and mother Nelson and Christiana Doolittle. Gilbert was working as a bartender (eventually finding work at the local post office and as a farmer as well).
Gilbert and Minerva grew up near each other in Factoryville; in fact, Factoryville was flooded with Mathewsons and Chapwells. Gilbert joined the Union’s cause during the Civil War, enlisting at a young age (younger than 16). He served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, Heavy Artillery (112th Volunteers), Company L.
Minerva was the daughter of George and Christiana Capwell. George, born in Rhode Island circa 1783, was 36 years older than Christiana, born in Pennsylvania circa 1819. George, a farmer, passed away in the early 1860s and Minerva married clergyman Nelson Doolittle, fourteen years older than Christiana.
Christy attended public grade school before enrolling at the Keystone Academy, a Factoryville prep school founded in 1868 by his grandmother. He graduated in 1898 and then enrolled at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
At the Keystone Academy Mathewson played on the baseball team beginning the first year; however, he did not pitch that season. By his second year in high school, he was captain and star pitcher of the club. He would pitch against the better club and play second base against the weaker ones. Mathewson batted cross-handed in high school, a habit he did not break until 1898.
At Bucknell Mathewson starred at baseball (pitcher), basketball (center) and especially football. He had grown to 6’2” and nearly 200 lbs. In college he majored in forestry, was elected class president and joined the glee club, two fraternities and a couple literary societies. His star though shined on the gridiron as a fullback, punter and drop kicker. Walter Camp, father of American football, identified Mathewson as the greatest football player he ever saw.
Mathewson attended Bucknell for two full years, 1898-99 and 1899-1900. He met his future wife there, Jane Stroughton, about the same age as Matty. They would marry over the winter of 1902-03 and have one child, a son named Christopher in 1907.
At age 14 in 1894 during the summer prior to joining the Keystone Academy, Mathewson was tapped by a local semi-pro club to pitch. He would continue to pitch for semi-pro clubs in and around Factoryville throughout his school years until 1899.
1898
In 1898 before enrolling at Bucknell Mathewson pitched for a Honesdale, PA semi-pro club, for $20 a month plus board. With Honesdale he was ridiculed until he dropped his cross-handed grip, not an easy task. Also, with the club he learned his famous “fadeway,” screwball, from teammate Dave Williams (who would appear in 3 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1902 http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willida02.shtml)
1899
In 1899 Matty returned to Honesdale at the beginning of summer and then joined his first professional club, Taunton, Massachusetts of the New England League for $90 a month. He made his pro debut on July 31, 1899, losing 6-5. He didn’t fare very well with Taunton, posting a 2-13 record in 17 games. After the final game of the season (a game in which Matty won), he was approached by John “Phenomenal” Smith (http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/smithph01.shtml) who had just been named manager of Norfolk in the new Virginia League that would kickoff in 1900. Smith paid Matty the same $90 a month but he guaranteed the paycheck, significant since Taunton had shorted him money.
1900
After his final exams in 1900, Matty joined Smith in Norfolk. In a short two months he posted a 20-2 record (also 4 shutouts and 128 K to 27 BB) and tossed a no-hitter against Hampton on June 13, missing a perfect game by a lone base on balls. Of course, this attracted major league attention.
The Virginia League was barely holding on in 1900; in fact, it collapsed (and would reinvent itself as the Virginia-North Carolina League). The Norfolk and Portsmouth clubs continued to barnstorm against each other. They played forty straight contests, perhaps the longest season series in organized baseball history.
Smith received two offers for Mathewson, one from the Philadelphia Phillies and the other from the New York Giants, and asked Matty his preference. Mathewson, a native of upper state Pennsylvania, chose New York. On July 13, 1900 Mathewson pitched his final game for Norfolk, a 10-7 victory in which he tripled, doubled and singled. He was then sold to the Giants for $2,000 (many sources cite $1,500 and they may be right but the $2,000 figure is supported by newspapers in December 1900 and by the subsequent lawsuit). The deal was conditional, contingent on New York’s satisfaction with the pitcher. Mathewson immediately reported to the Giants and made his major league debut on July 17.
Mathewson was knocked around by major league batters in 1900, going 0-3 with an ERA over 5.00. In his last game on September 26 he walked six batters and blew a 7-4 lead. On December 12, 1900 E.H. Cunningham, owner of Norfolk, showed up at the National League meetings in New York. He was looking for money; the Giants still had not paid for Mathewson.
Giants’ owner Andrew Freedman had no interest in paying and no interest in giving up Mathewson either. He immediately returned Mathewson to Norfolk, dissolving the deal and his $2,000 obligation. Unbeknown, Freedman had made a secret deal with Cincinnati Reds’ owner John Brush (Brush not only owned stock in the Giants but would eventually purchase the club outright from Freedman in 1903). Brush then drafted Mathewson off Norfolk’s roster on December 13 for the required $100 draft fee. On December 15 Brush traded Mathewson to the Giants for Amos Rusie, a 29-year-old fireballer who had already posted 245 major league victories. (However, Rusie hadn’t played since 1898 and would only appear in three more major league games.) Essentially, Brush and Freedman conspired to cheat Cunningham out of $1,900.
Naturally, Cunningham was livid so he decided to sue. The majors had a long history of taking advantage of minor league magnates. On March 29, 1904 the matter went before the court in Brooklyn. John Montgomery Ward acted as lead counsel for Cunningham. The judge ruled in favor of Cunningham, awarding Norfolk $2,000.
1901
Going into 1901 the National League was having trouble with the players’ union. The players now had another option. The American League was transforming to major league status. As such, the leagues abandoned the National Agreement and decided to tamper with each other’s contracts.
On March 30, 1901 Connie Mack, manager of the American League Philadelphia A’s posted his roster. It included a listing of a righthanded pitcher named Mathewson. In January Matty had met with Mack and took a signing bonus, committing himself for the 1901 season. However, it was not to be. Matty had used Mack’s offer as leverage against the Giants. He cashed a larger check from the Giants and tried to return Mack’s money.
On April 1, 1901 Matty reported for his first major league spring training – with the Giants at Manhattan Field in New York. Mack went public with his allegations against Mathewson on April 3. He did not accept the return of the money from Mathewson and expected Mathewson in the A’s camp and threatened legal action.
It was a hectic time though; rosters were changing daily. In April Mack also had star pitcher Vic Willis (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willivi01.shtml) jump the team and entered a legal battle against the Phillies for the rights of Nap Lajoie, Chick Fraser and Bill Bernhard. Mack eventually let the matter with Mathewson drop.
On April 10 Mathewson blew a lead against Yale at the Polo Grounds in the ninth inning, allowing four runs for a humiliating 5-4 loss.
1902
In October 1902 Mathewson joined a professional football team in Pittsburgh. Connie Mack coached a team in the league. Mathewson was released in mid-November, being edged out of the halfback position by Ellis formerly of Harvard.
1903
After the 1902 season, St. Louis Browns’ owner Robert Hedges signed Mathewson, who had just won 34 games over the last two years, and his everyday catcher Frank Bowerman to contracts for the 1903 season including a cash advance. However, the two major leagues met in January 1903 to make peace and eliminate all this tampering. Once the basics of the agreement were worked out, major league executives had the task of settling disputes over player assignments. Hedges relinquished his claim to Mathewson, thus calming a potentially ruinous situation.
Gilbert and Minerva grew up near each other in Factoryville; in fact, Factoryville was flooded with Mathewsons and Chapwells. Gilbert joined the Union’s cause during the Civil War, enlisting at a young age (younger than 16). He served in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, Heavy Artillery (112th Volunteers), Company L.
Minerva was the daughter of George and Christiana Capwell. George, born in Rhode Island circa 1783, was 36 years older than Christiana, born in Pennsylvania circa 1819. George, a farmer, passed away in the early 1860s and Minerva married clergyman Nelson Doolittle, fourteen years older than Christiana.
Christy attended public grade school before enrolling at the Keystone Academy, a Factoryville prep school founded in 1868 by his grandmother. He graduated in 1898 and then enrolled at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
At the Keystone Academy Mathewson played on the baseball team beginning the first year; however, he did not pitch that season. By his second year in high school, he was captain and star pitcher of the club. He would pitch against the better club and play second base against the weaker ones. Mathewson batted cross-handed in high school, a habit he did not break until 1898.
At Bucknell Mathewson starred at baseball (pitcher), basketball (center) and especially football. He had grown to 6’2” and nearly 200 lbs. In college he majored in forestry, was elected class president and joined the glee club, two fraternities and a couple literary societies. His star though shined on the gridiron as a fullback, punter and drop kicker. Walter Camp, father of American football, identified Mathewson as the greatest football player he ever saw.
Mathewson attended Bucknell for two full years, 1898-99 and 1899-1900. He met his future wife there, Jane Stroughton, about the same age as Matty. They would marry over the winter of 1902-03 and have one child, a son named Christopher in 1907.
At age 14 in 1894 during the summer prior to joining the Keystone Academy, Mathewson was tapped by a local semi-pro club to pitch. He would continue to pitch for semi-pro clubs in and around Factoryville throughout his school years until 1899.
1898
In 1898 before enrolling at Bucknell Mathewson pitched for a Honesdale, PA semi-pro club, for $20 a month plus board. With Honesdale he was ridiculed until he dropped his cross-handed grip, not an easy task. Also, with the club he learned his famous “fadeway,” screwball, from teammate Dave Williams (who would appear in 3 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1902 http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willida02.shtml)
1899
In 1899 Matty returned to Honesdale at the beginning of summer and then joined his first professional club, Taunton, Massachusetts of the New England League for $90 a month. He made his pro debut on July 31, 1899, losing 6-5. He didn’t fare very well with Taunton, posting a 2-13 record in 17 games. After the final game of the season (a game in which Matty won), he was approached by John “Phenomenal” Smith (http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/smithph01.shtml) who had just been named manager of Norfolk in the new Virginia League that would kickoff in 1900. Smith paid Matty the same $90 a month but he guaranteed the paycheck, significant since Taunton had shorted him money.
1900
After his final exams in 1900, Matty joined Smith in Norfolk. In a short two months he posted a 20-2 record (also 4 shutouts and 128 K to 27 BB) and tossed a no-hitter against Hampton on June 13, missing a perfect game by a lone base on balls. Of course, this attracted major league attention.
The Virginia League was barely holding on in 1900; in fact, it collapsed (and would reinvent itself as the Virginia-North Carolina League). The Norfolk and Portsmouth clubs continued to barnstorm against each other. They played forty straight contests, perhaps the longest season series in organized baseball history.
Smith received two offers for Mathewson, one from the Philadelphia Phillies and the other from the New York Giants, and asked Matty his preference. Mathewson, a native of upper state Pennsylvania, chose New York. On July 13, 1900 Mathewson pitched his final game for Norfolk, a 10-7 victory in which he tripled, doubled and singled. He was then sold to the Giants for $2,000 (many sources cite $1,500 and they may be right but the $2,000 figure is supported by newspapers in December 1900 and by the subsequent lawsuit). The deal was conditional, contingent on New York’s satisfaction with the pitcher. Mathewson immediately reported to the Giants and made his major league debut on July 17.
Mathewson was knocked around by major league batters in 1900, going 0-3 with an ERA over 5.00. In his last game on September 26 he walked six batters and blew a 7-4 lead. On December 12, 1900 E.H. Cunningham, owner of Norfolk, showed up at the National League meetings in New York. He was looking for money; the Giants still had not paid for Mathewson.
Giants’ owner Andrew Freedman had no interest in paying and no interest in giving up Mathewson either. He immediately returned Mathewson to Norfolk, dissolving the deal and his $2,000 obligation. Unbeknown, Freedman had made a secret deal with Cincinnati Reds’ owner John Brush (Brush not only owned stock in the Giants but would eventually purchase the club outright from Freedman in 1903). Brush then drafted Mathewson off Norfolk’s roster on December 13 for the required $100 draft fee. On December 15 Brush traded Mathewson to the Giants for Amos Rusie, a 29-year-old fireballer who had already posted 245 major league victories. (However, Rusie hadn’t played since 1898 and would only appear in three more major league games.) Essentially, Brush and Freedman conspired to cheat Cunningham out of $1,900.
Naturally, Cunningham was livid so he decided to sue. The majors had a long history of taking advantage of minor league magnates. On March 29, 1904 the matter went before the court in Brooklyn. John Montgomery Ward acted as lead counsel for Cunningham. The judge ruled in favor of Cunningham, awarding Norfolk $2,000.
1901
Going into 1901 the National League was having trouble with the players’ union. The players now had another option. The American League was transforming to major league status. As such, the leagues abandoned the National Agreement and decided to tamper with each other’s contracts.
On March 30, 1901 Connie Mack, manager of the American League Philadelphia A’s posted his roster. It included a listing of a righthanded pitcher named Mathewson. In January Matty had met with Mack and took a signing bonus, committing himself for the 1901 season. However, it was not to be. Matty had used Mack’s offer as leverage against the Giants. He cashed a larger check from the Giants and tried to return Mack’s money.
On April 1, 1901 Matty reported for his first major league spring training – with the Giants at Manhattan Field in New York. Mack went public with his allegations against Mathewson on April 3. He did not accept the return of the money from Mathewson and expected Mathewson in the A’s camp and threatened legal action.
It was a hectic time though; rosters were changing daily. In April Mack also had star pitcher Vic Willis (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willivi01.shtml) jump the team and entered a legal battle against the Phillies for the rights of Nap Lajoie, Chick Fraser and Bill Bernhard. Mack eventually let the matter with Mathewson drop.
On April 10 Mathewson blew a lead against Yale at the Polo Grounds in the ninth inning, allowing four runs for a humiliating 5-4 loss.
1902
In October 1902 Mathewson joined a professional football team in Pittsburgh. Connie Mack coached a team in the league. Mathewson was released in mid-November, being edged out of the halfback position by Ellis formerly of Harvard.
1903
After the 1902 season, St. Louis Browns’ owner Robert Hedges signed Mathewson, who had just won 34 games over the last two years, and his everyday catcher Frank Bowerman to contracts for the 1903 season including a cash advance. However, the two major leagues met in January 1903 to make peace and eliminate all this tampering. Once the basics of the agreement were worked out, major league executives had the task of settling disputes over player assignments. Hedges relinquished his claim to Mathewson, thus calming a potentially ruinous situation.
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