Christy Mathewson Pitched for Tauton in 1899???

[Archive]

Posted By: bigfish

Hello,

Looking threw a collection I just bought and it has research that indicates Mathewson pitched for in the New England League in 1899 for Tauton. Record was not so good. 2W-3L. Does anyone know more about Matty's early career?

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

He played for Norfolk (Virginia League) the following season and came up to the Giants later in the year. Those two teams (Taunton and Norfolk) are the only minor league teams he played for in his career.

[Archive]

Posted By: bigfish

Very cool. I was unaware.

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve F

Interesting toby, Thanks for sharing this little nugget.

Taunton, "Silver City" Mass.

A gritty old mill town down by Fall River

[Archive]

Posted By: PC

Matty's amateur career (late 1890s):

(1) Factoryville -- his town team (began pitching at 14 years old)
(2) Keyston Academy -- his high school team (a Baptist prep school -- his family thought he would be a minister, which led him later to Bucknell)
(3) Mill City -- rival town team of Factoryville
(4) Scranton -- local town/YMCA team
(5) Honesdale -- another rival town team of Factoryville (he was paid $20/month)
(6) Bucknell -- his college team (played baseball and football)

He then played for Honesdale again in the summer of 1899 (after his freshman year at Bucknell). Honesdale could be considered a "semi-pro" team, as opposed to an "amateur" team. While playing for Honesdale he was noticed by scouts for the "professional" Taunton (Massachusetts) team, which he played for that same summer.

He then went back to Bucknell for his sophomore year, and then on to play for Norfolk in the spring of 1900, and then quickly on to the Giants in July 1900.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jerry

A couple of Matty's Bucknell Yearbook Pictures