Matty, an American Hero: Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants

At the turn of the century, the great American sports hero was the fictional Frank Merriwell, every boy's ideal. But in 1900 Meriwell was virtually displaced when the New York Giants signed Christy Mathewson, a handsome undergraduate at Bucknell University and a model of civility and graciousness who neither smoked nor drank to excess and rarely swore. He won the affection of even the most cynical sportswriters. Mathewson was a superb pitcher, winning 373 games in 16 years and posting astonishing earned run averages. Robinson ( Iron Horse ) recalls this true hero, a fitting resurrection in todays sports' world, a real-life Merriwell who was mourned nationally when he died from TB in 1925 at age 45. (Aug.)