San Francisco Giants Mount Rushmore
By David Hill
Christy Mathewson (1900-1914)
One of the all time greatest pitchers, Mathewson was almost a Cincinnati Reds star instead of being one of the top players in Giants history.
Selected by the Reds as a Rule V draft pick in December 1900, the Giants sent another great, Amos Rusie, to Cincinnati to get Mathewson back. While Rusie was essentially done, Mathewson was set to begin a stellar career.
Considered one of the best players both on and off the field, Mathewson was beloved by manager John McGraw. It was easy to see why, especially given his performance on the mound. He was a two time Triple Crown winner, leading the league in strikeouts and ERA five times. Mathewson also led the league in wins four times, and won 20 or more games 14 times.
The top pitcher in baseball history according to Bill James Hall of Fame score, Mathewson was a dominant force. He posted a 372-188 record with the Giants, along with a 2.18 ERA and a 1.057 WHiP. In his 4788.2 innings, Mathewson struck out 2504 batters while issuing only 847 walks. Interestingly enough, he made his final career appearance with the Reds, earning a victory in his only start. That victory was one more than Rusie had for Cincinnati.
Christy Mathewson was one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game. That greatness almost happened some place else, if not for one brilliant trade.