Christy Mathewson - Integrity

First let me apologize that so many of my posts revolve around baseball, but it is the World Series. I’ve been thinking of Biblical leadership and examples in baseball. I know you never thought you would see those two in the same sentence, but there are Christians that play baseball and lots of connections to spiritual life in the game itself.

One example is that of Christy Mathewson, pitcher for the New York Giants. Yes the same Giants in the World Series, before they moved of course. This guy would make Tim Lincecum look like a 12 year old…wait…Lincecum does look like a 12 year old. Anyway, Mathewson was one of the first great American sports heroes, before Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, and other great athletes. He was a part of the first class of inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Amid all his accomplishments, one thing that Christy was known for, on and off the field, was his integrity. He was often called “the Christian Gentleman” by his fellow teammates and opponents.

Here’s an excerpt from the New York Herald-Tribune the day following his death.
“While Mathewson’s record in baseball will stand while the game lasts, it was not his prowess as an athlete that made him the idol of American manhood young and old. It was the character of the man…He played for all that was in him, he fought the good fight and the clean fight. He was the incarnation of all those virtues with which we endow the ideal American.”

The greatest demonstration of this took place on the last day of the season in 1908. Mathewson’s team, the Giants, were facing the Chicago Cubs for the chance to play in the World Series. Winner takes all.

In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 1-1, with 2 outs, Harry McCormick was on third and nineteen year old rookie Fred Merkle stood on first base. Al Bridwell lined a hit into right center and McCormick scored. Merkle didn’t bother touching second base after seeing McCormick score. The Giants and their fans rushed the field at the Polo Grounds in New York, everyone was in full celebration. Except for Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers, who yelled for centerfielder Solly Hofman to toss him the ball. Evers knew that if he stepped on second base it would be a force out of Merkle, and the third out of the inning and McCormick’s run wouldn’t count.

At first both umpires said they didn’t see if Merkle touched second or not, but later that evening Home plate umpire Hank O’Day ruled that Merkle was out and so the game was still tied. At this point it’s too late to resume the game. No lights. Its 1908, remember. The Giants are fighting mad, so they appeal the call. At this time there was no commissioner for baseball, instead a board of directors ruled over the game. The board took affidavits from every player and coach involved. You can imagine what that was like, every Cub said Merkle didn’t touch second, every Giant said he did.

One affidavit stood out, Christy Mathewson’s. Christy was the one Giant that said Merkle didn’t touch second, and He would know, He was coaching 1st base and ran to Merkle between first and second to hug him as they celebrated their apparent trip to the World Series.

The board ruled in favor of the Cubs, the game was replayed and the Giants lost. Mathewson sacrificed a lot; a trip to the World Series, more money, and probably the friendship of some of his teammates. But one thing is for sure, no one could question his integrity when he passed away at the age of 45.

In the Bible, 1st Samuel 12:1-5, the prophet Samuel was able to stand before the Israelites and say, if I have wronged anybody tell me and I will pay restoration for it. No one could bring anything against him and they said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

How great would it be to lie on your death bed and send out a facebook message, tweet, text, smoke signals, or whatever, and say if I have wronged anyone then speak up so I can make amends with you. And you hear nothing but silence. You have lived your life in such a way that your integrity can’t be questioned.