At a time when ballplayers were looked down upon as a rough and unsavory bunch, Christy Mathewson came along and changed that perception. The college-educated pitcher brought a sense of fair play and honesty to the game, and as the fortunes of his team, the New York Giants grew, so did his stature as a role model for America’s youth. Besides his wholesome persona, Mathewson embodied the winning spirit, pitching the Giants and Reds to 373 victories in his 16-year career. His 1908 season still stands as one of the greatest on record – 37 wins, 34 complete games – 11 by shutout – and holding opposing batters to a miniscule 1.43 ERA.

When America entered the First World War, Mathewson heeded the call to arms and served in France. It was during a training exercise where Mathewson was accidently gassed, setting in motion the illness that would soon take his life. Mathewson returned to the States and took on various baseball jobs until his tuberculosis forced him to seek care in an Upstate New York sanitarium. This beautifully signed check dates to Christy Mathewson’s final year spent living in New York’s Adirondacks seeking relief from his tuberculosis. The check is drawn from his Adirondack National Bank account and is dated November 7, 1924, less than a year before he would pass away on October 7th, 1925. The check is made out for $5.00 to Dr. E.N. Packard, Mathewson’s personal physician and a Syracuse-based expert on lung ailments. The check has been signed by Mathewson in his wonderfully fluid script, with the characteristic flourishes on the “C” and “M.” The check carries all the expected cancellation stamps and perforations, thankfully none of which affects the signature. There are several tears in the check, all of which have been secured many years ago with adhesive tape on the reverse. The check has been encapsulated and Mathewson’s signature graded a sterling GEM MT 10 by PSA/DNA (84168952).

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