The Player - by Philip Seib (Paperback)

About the Book

Christy Mathewson was baseball's first superstar--a beloved turn-of-the-century pitcher who was among the initial group of five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also defined moral excellence, bridging sport and national culture at a time when pro ballplayers were perceived as louts, and was the first to bring respectability to the game. This is a thoughtful and inspiring story of a singular American life that had a profound and lasting influence on our national identity.

Book Synopsis

Christy Mathewson (1880-1925) was baseball's first superstar pitcher who still ranks among the all-time leaders in wins, earned run average, and shutouts. Mathewson was in the first group elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, with Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Walter Johnson. At a time when professional ballplayers were regarded as hard-living rogues, Matty was a soft-spoken college boy who espoused clean living and did more than any other athlete to elevate the place of sports in American life. Parents longed for their children to model their lives after his. He even wrote children's books to help instill the values of hard work and determination. With a diverse cast of characters including Teddy Roosevelt, Edith Wharton and Scott Fitzgerald, The Player is an exciting, cinematic evocation of a singular American life -- and what that life means today. Photographs are featured.

Review Quotes

Excellent... entertaining and informative recommended."

About the Author

Philip Seib is a professor at Marquette University and an award-winning journalist.