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!
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