Christy Mathewson was a gentleman in a not-so-gentle era of baseball. At a time when the game was viewed as a pastime for uncouth louts and vagabonds, the Bucknell-educated twirler Mathewson bucked convention by engaging in an extensive literary and theatrical career in New York while pitching for the New York Giants. Mathewson’s playing career, which included 373 wins and a 2.13 career era, ended with induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of its charter class in 1936. Mathewson won 30 or more games four times, including a career best of 37 in 1908. Tragically, an accident while training for service in WWI led to Mathewson’s fatal diagnosis of tuberculosis, with Mathewson passing away in 1925 at the age of 45.

Offered here is a signed hardcover copy of Mathewson’s 1910 book Won in the Ninth. The book features a weathered, but still visually pleasing, green cover, with an image of Mathewson pitching shown front and center. A book plate signed by Mathewson in black steel-tip fountain pen is affixed to the inside cover. This book is presentation copy number 346, and it was presented to a “Mr. A.L. House”. This book is in good condition, and it is accompanied by a LOA from JSA (Y40029).

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