Christy Mathewson was one of the gentlemen of baseball’s early years, and one of the players most responsible for curating baseball’s reputation as a game played by outlaw ruffians into a sport for the sophisticated and elite. A graduate of Bucknell College in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Mathewson joined the New York Giants for the 1900 season at the tender age of 19. While it took a few seasons for Mathewson to develop into the formidable pitcher he became, he quickly adjusted to life as a Big Leaguer. In 1903, “Matty” won 30 games for the first time in his career, while leading the league in strikeouts (267), and maintaining an ERA 2.26. His 267 punchouts stood as the National League record for over half a century before another great New York pitcher, Sandy Koufax, eclipsed his vaunted mark.

Unfortunately for Mathewson, his health began failing him after an accidental exposure to mustard gas while stationed in France during World War I. After attempting to return to baseball in 1925 as the president of the Boston Braves, Mathewson succumbed to the tuberculosis he was diagnosed with in 1921 at the young age of 45. 11 years after his death, Mathewson was honored as a part of the legendary inaugural class of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson and Honus Wagner.

Because of his premature passing, signed items with Christy Mathewson are extremely rare and this presented baseball might be the rarest one yet! Mathewson’s signature is one of the most desirable in the hobby due to the lack of exemplars and many of those appear on documents or checks, with baseballs themselves having team signatures with Mathewson, instead of the highly desired single-signed variety presented here.  Mathewson’s black steel-tipped fountain pen signature has been penned on the side panel leading up to the National League stamp on the sweet spot. This ball is also a rarity as it is an Official National League John K. Tener baseball. Tener stamped baseballs do not come up that often and add that with a Christy Mathewson signature and you now have something unique and special. Tener served as National League president from 1913-1918. As would be expected from a ball that is over a century old, this displays toning and age wear. Mathewson’s signature is light on part of the first name and the “M” is obscured with heavier black ink and while the Mathewson's signature is light on the first name, overall the specimen does have a bold ink appearance and remains as one of the finer single signed Christy Mathewson baseballs in existence. A truly spectacular ball loaded with history. This ball comes with a LOA from JSA (BB77077) for Mathewson’s signature.

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