Monday, May 31, 2010

A Salute to the 15 Greatest U.S. Armed Forces Veteran MLB Players



Memorial Day Weekend Series- Part 13 of 16

No. 4 Christy Mathewson


In an unusual twist, Major League Baseball's third most winningest pitcher served in the armed forces after his playing career was over. Christy Mathewson accumulated a 373-188 record over 17 seasons with the New York Giants at the outset of the 20th century.


Mathewson registered 30-win seasons four different times and 20-win seasons another nine times in his career. His 2.13 ERA and 79 shutouts rank him 9th and 3rd all-time.


The tall right hander's best campaign was 1908 when he went 37-11 with a 1.43 ERA. Of course, 31-9 with a 1.28 ERA three years earlier was not too shabby, either.


After retiring from baseball, Mathewson enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I. He served as a Captain in a newly formed "Chemical Service", and fell victim to an accident that would ultimately lead to his untimely death in 1925 at the age of 45.


G W L PCT ERA SO SHO

636 373 188 .665 2.13 2507 79


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