Christy Mathewson, 1912
Photographer: Charles Conlon
Photo Subject: Christy Mathewson posing for Charles Conlon in the Polo Grounds after a team workout.
Fun Fact: Although no year is listed, the uniform style shown here (solid black cap, large "NY" on the left sleeve) was used by the Giants only in 1912.
Christy Mathewson was dubbed the “Christian Gentleman” and was a rarity for ball players of his era. He was college educated, soft-spoken, a man of faith and rarely spoke an ill word of anyone. Considered by some to be the best right-handed pitcher to have ever played, he was one of the original five members to baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1912 was Mathewson’s last great season. He was 31 years old and was still at the top of his game, leading the Giants in innings pitched and finishing the year with 23 wins and a 2.12 ERA. 1912 marked the tenth straight season that Mathewson won 20 or more games, and he would add to that streak in each of the next two seasons as well.
Painting Detail: Printed on 13” x 19” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Fine details, like the uniform pinstripes, where created using Prismacolor pencils.