Ivan Larsen 
You might know him best as the man behind baseball’s greatest nickname, “The Babe.” But there was much more to Christy Mathewson than that. One of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Mathewson is considered one of the game’s all-time greats, both for his pitching prowess and his sportsmanlike conduct. Born in Factoryville, Pennsylvania in 1880, Mathewson began playing baseball at an early age. He soon developed into a star pitcher, and by the time he graduated from high school, he had already attracted the attention of several professional teams. In 1900, he signed with the New York Giants, and made his major league debut the following year.
Mathewson quickly established himself as one of the game’s top pitchers, winning 20 or more games in eight of his first nine seasons. He was especially dominant in 1905, when he went 31-9 with a 1.28 ERA and led the Giants to a World Series victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. He continued to pitch well into his 30s, winning 13 games in 1915 at the age of 35. Mathewson’s career came to an abrupt end in 1916, when he was drafted into military service during World War I. While training in Georgia, he contracted tuberculosis and was never able to fully recover. He died in 1925 at the age of 45. Despite his relatively short career, Mathewson left a lasting legacy on the game of baseball. In addition to his nickname, “The Babe,” he also popularized the screwball pitch and was one of the first pitchers to regularly use a glove. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, and his jersey number, “19,” was retired by the Giants in 1951.
what baseball player was nicknamed the say hey kid
Willie Mays was nicknamed the “Say Hey Kid” due to his outgoing and enthusiastic personality. He was one of the greatest players in baseball history and is considered one of the game’s all-time greats.
how many players are in the baseball hall of fame
There are currently 314 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Players must be retired for five years before they can be eligible for induction.
why was christy mathewson inducted into the baseball hall of fame
Christy Mathewson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He was a dominant pitcher during his career, winning 20 or more games in eight of his first nine seasons. He also popularized the screwball pitch and was one of the first pitchers to use a glove.
what year was the first baseball hall of fame class inducted
The first Baseball Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1936. The five original members were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson.
