Shieber: Christy Mathewson, insurance agent
From SABR member Tom Shieber at BaseballHall.org on August 28, 2018:
Christy Mathewson. Hall of Famer. Pitching immortal. Insurance agent.
Insurance agent? Yes, indeed. Following Mathewson’s stellar 1908 campaign in which he led the National League with 37 wins, a 1.43 ERA, 259 strikeouts, 34 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 390⅔ innings pitched, the New York Giants ace announced that he intended to leave the baseball diamond for the insurance business.
“Baseball shall probably see me no more,” the 28-year-old star pitcher told the press, “for the advantages in the insurance business are so great that I either have to sacrifice a business career or baseball life.”
Read the full article here: https://baseballhall.org/discover/shortstops/christy-mathewson-flip-book
Originally published: August 29, 2018. Last Updated: August 29, 2018.