Christy Mathewson: The King of Control Biography 1950 Art Print
The page from the 1950 Big Time Baseball publication focuses on Christy Mathewson, dubbed "The King of Control." Renowned for his precise pitching, Mathewson highlighted control during a visit to West Point, impressively winning a bet by delivering 20 pitches into a stationary catcher's mitt, with at least three being curveballs. In the 1918 season, Mathewson, the ace for the Giants, set records by pitching 68 consecutive innings without allowing a walk, facing 1,195 batters and issuing only 21 walks over 306 innings. Mathewson's career spanned 17 years, during which he joined the elite group of pitchers with over 300 wins, totaling 373 victories and achieving a lifetime pitching average of .665. He consistently won 20 or more games for 12 consecutive seasons and exceeded 30 victories in three straight seasons. In 1905, Mathewson's World Series performance was legendary, achieving three shutouts against the Athletics.