The Player

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.