Baseball fans and Pennsylvania history buffs will want to head to Factoryville to see this monument dedicated to local hero Christy Mathewson.

Christopher “Christy” Mathewson (August 12, 1880 – October 7, 1925), nicknamed “Big Six”, “The Christian Gentleman”, or “Matty”, was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. On the mound, Mathewson was a fierce competitor who became arguably the most dominating pitcher of all time. During his illustrious 17-year career, mostly with the New York Giants, he led the league in wins four times, won five strikeout titles, won 30 or more games four times, pitched four shutouts and ten complete games in World Series competition, and won 373 games in his career. In 1936, he joined Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson as the first class of baseball Hall of Famers as on eof its original members. .

On top of these achievements, Mathewson also wrote a series of children’s books. In a time when baseball was known for hard-living, hard-drinking baseball players, Mathewson showed there was another way for athletes to live. He was the role model after whom every parent wanted their children to shape their lives. Born in Facortyville, Wyoming County, Mathewson is considered one of baseball’s “greats” whose career was cut short by tuberculosis. 

Each summer, Factoryville’s Christy Mathewson Days honor the sports legend and his contributions.