Catcher Craig

by Christy Mathewson, C M (Charles M ) Relyea

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. ...it, Pete!" Hanford glanced a bit nervously toward where Sam was taking a ten-foot lead off third. Suddenly the Mount Placid catcher became alarmed. A hit meant two runs and a tied score! Beckoning to Mr. Williams, he advanced halfway toward the box and the two consulted. This was the visitors' chance to jibe and they took advantage of it. "You 've got them worried, Pete!" "Up in the air, fellows! Here 's where we tie it up I" "Play ball! Play ball!" The coachers added their contributions, while Sam, dancing about at third, seriously interfered with the conversation between Mr. Williams and Hanford by threatening to steal home every instant. Finally the Mount Placid battery returned to their places and Hanford knelt and gave his signal, or pretended to. What followed was a pitch-out, a quick peg to the pitcher by Hanford and an equally speedy throw to third, and Sam, two yards from base, was caught flat-footed for the third out! CHAPTER XIV TIED IN THE EIGHTH THE Wigwam was quiet and disappointed while the teams changed places. From across the diamond came the applauding cheers of the enemy. Sam, thoroughly disgusted with himself, donned protector and mask in grim silence. Joe Groom, who had been coaching at third, generously strove to take the blame. " That was my fault, sir! I ought to have known they were up to some silly trick!" "No one's fault but mine," replied Sam decisively. "I played it like an idiot!" Benson went to bat for the home team in the last of the seventh and cracked out a two-bagger over shortstop and was caught off second a minute or two later by a quick return from Sam to Porter, who whirled instantly and pegged to...

166 pages, Paperback

Published March 29, 2025

About the author

Christy Mathewson played for the New York Giants from 1900 to 1916. He was one of the most dominant baseball pitchers of all time, ranking in the all-time top ten in several different categories including wins, shutouts, and ERA.

In 1918 he joined the army to serve in World War I but was accidentally gassed during a training exercise and developed tuberculosis. Mathewson never fully recovered his health and died in 1925 at the age of forty-five.

In 1936 he was named as one of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, alongside Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth.