FOUL BALL!!

   THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

               FOUL BALL!!!

    For those who don't know, Christy

Mathewson was one of the greatest

baseball pitchers of all time. He's on

the list of the top ten major league pitchers

and was one of the original 5 players

inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

For us, he was also a "local boy,' born in

Factoryville where he is honored with a

festival every year. He was known as

"Bix Six" and "The Christian Gentelman."

Seems ironic then that, on this very day in

1917 he, then managing the Cincinati Reds,

and legendary New York Giants Manager

John McGraw, got themselves arrested!

They had planned a special baseball game

for August 19th to benefit soldiers about

to ship overseas in Worle War I. They

even arranged to have a band play for

the soldiers before the game. Problem

was, August 19th was a Sunday and New

York's "Blue Laws" were still in effect!

So McGraw and our "Christian Gentelman"

were arrested for staging a baseball game

on the Sabbath! They both went to court

and could have faced heavty fines were in

not for an understanding judge who

dismissed the charges....setting in place

a police that allowed baseball to be played

on Sundays! Not an umpire,,,but a great

call! Hope you're we;; and that all your NEWS

is good!