"Christy Mathewson was baseball's first superstar - a beloved turn-of-the-century pitcher who was among the initial group of five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mathewson was a hero to fans, a role model for children, and a lasting symbol of sportsmanship. He transformed and transcended the game, with achievements on the diamond that are unmatched to this day, and with accomplishments off the field that made him one of the best-known Americans of his time." "Mathewson defined athletic and moral excellence, bridging sport and national culture and bringing millions of new fans to professional baseball. He mirrored the attributes and standards of his country as the American century began, recognizing the importance of athletes' character and even writing a series of popular children's books to teach the value of hard work and "pluck." When his playing days ended, he fought the corruption that was seeping into baseball, and at thirty-eight he volunteered to fight in World War I. While in France he was exposed to poison gas that contributed to his early death at forty-five." "Mathewson's story is also a lively cultural history of ragtime America. The diverse cast of characters includes not only baseball legends such as John McGraw and Rube Marquard, but also Teddy Roosevelt, Edith Wharton, Billy Sunday, Scott Fitzgerald, and many more."--Jacket.