Al Bridwell / Christy Mathewson Cigarette Card
date: label: date made
content: 1911
name: label: Associated Name
content: Mathewson, Christy
label: Associated Name
content: New York Giants
label: maker
content: Mecca Cigarettes
notes: label: Description
content: This cigarette card was inserted into packages of Mecca cigarettes in 1911. Part of the <i>Mecca Double Folders</i> series, the card features two players: Al Bridwell and Christy Mathewson. By unfolding the card, the second player is revealed.
label: Description
content: Shortstop Al Bridwell (1884-1969) played for five teams over the course of his Major League career. The oft-traded infielder played for the Cincinnati Reds (1905,) Boston Beaneaters/ Doves (1906,1907,) New York Giants (1908-1912,) Chicago Cubs (1913) and St. Louis Terriers (1914-1915.) Bridwell had a lifetime batting average of .255, with 350 runs batted in and 136 stolen bases.
label: Description
content: Right-handed pitcher Christy Mathewson (1880-1925) was one of the most successful players to ever take the mound in the Major Leagues. In 17 years with the New York Giants the Pennsylvania native amassed a career record of 373-188, with a lifetime earned run average of 2.13. The former collegiate star used a devastating fadeaway (screwball) to twice achieve pitching’s triple crown (leading the league in three major statistical categories; wins, era, and strikeouts,) throw two no hitters, and lead the league in strikeouts five times. Mathewson starred in bringing the Giants a World Series title in 1905, pitching three games without giving up a run.
label: Description
content: In 1916, the aging hurler joined the Cincinnati Reds, where he appeared in one game. Mathewson would continue as the team’s manager through the 1918 season. After that year, he joined the military, where as a member of the Chemical Service he developed tuberculosis resulting from a training exercise. The disease plagued him as he returned to baseball as a coach an owner, and ultimately led to his death in 1925.
label: Description
content: Mathewson’s 37 wins in 1908 is still a record for baseball’s modern era. In 1936 he was a member of the Baseball Hall of Fames’ inaugural class.
topic: label: web subject
content: Sports
label: name of sport
content: Baseball
label: level of sport
content: Professional
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2000.3001.045
label: nonaccession number
content: 2000.3001
label: catalog number
content: 2000.3001.045
objectType: label: Object Name
content: card, baseball
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 3 1/2 in x 3 in; 8.89 cm x 7.62 cm