BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball Paperback - 2006

by Frank Deford

Add to wish list

Focusing on the unusual friendship between John McGraw and Christy Mathewson, "The Old Ball Game" is a masterful chronicle of the early days of baseball from America's most beloved sportswriter. Illustrations throughout.

Reader reviews for The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

Write a review for this book

There are no reviews for this book yet. Be the first to write a review!

Your review will be anonymous unless you login or create an account first.

Overall rating
Remember: You’re rating the book as a work, not the seller or the condition of the specific copy you purchased!

Important Terms and Guidelines

  • Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
  • Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
  • Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
  • This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
  • Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
  • Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
  • Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
  • Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
  • Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
  • Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information

From the publisher

In The Old Ball Game, Frank Deford, NPR sports commentator and Sports Illustrated journalist retells the story of an unusual friendship between two towering figures in baseball history.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Christy Mathewson was one of baseball's first superstars. Over six feet tall, clean cut, and college educated, he didn't pitch on the Sabbath and rarely spoke an ill word about anyone. He also had one of the most devastating arms in all of baseball. New York Giants manager John McGraw, by contrast, was ferocious. The pugnacious tough guy was already a star infielder who, with the Baltimore Orioles, helped develop a new, scrappy style of baseball, with plays like the hit-and-run, the Baltimore chop, and the squeeze play. When McGraw joined the Giants in 1902, the Giants were coming off their worst season ever. Yet within three years, Mathewson clinched New York City's first World Series for McGraw's team by throwing three straight shutouts in only six days, an incredible feat that is invariably called the greatest World Series performance ever. Because of their wonderful odd-couple association, baseball had its first superstar, the Giants ascended into legend, and baseball as a national pastime bloomed.

First line

Although neither one of them ever seems to have mentioned it for posterity, John J. McGraw and Christopher Mathewson must surely have first encountered each other on the warm afternoon of Thursday, July 19, in the year 1900, at the Polo Grounds in the upper reaches of Manhattan on an occasion when, as was his wont, McGraw made an ass of himself.

Details

  • Title The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball
  • Author Frank Deford
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition reprint
  • Pages 256
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Grove Press, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • Publication date 2006-03-02
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Illustrated
  • ISBN 9780802142474 / 0802142478
  • Weight 0.75 lbs (0.34 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.96 x 6.08 x 0.7 in (22.76 x 15.44 x 1.78 cm)
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Mid-Atlantic
    • Cultural Region: Northeast U.S.
    • Geographic Orientation: New York
    • Holiday: Father's Day
    • Locality: New York, N.Y.
  • Category Sports & Recreation
  • Dewey Decimal Code 796.357

Media reviews

Citations

  • New York Times, 05/07/2006, Page 32
Back to top↑

More Copies for Sale

Show all copies
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
Wonder Book
Item price
A$4.36
A$5.82 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. .
Add to wish list
Item price
A$4.36
A$5.82 Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
Wonder Book
Item price
A$4.36
A$5.82 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press. Used - Good. Good condition. Writing inside.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$4.36
A$5.82 Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
  • Acceptable
Condition
Acceptable
Edition
Complete Numbers Sta
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
BooksRun
Item price
A$7.41
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press. Complete Numbers Sta. Acceptable. The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$7.41
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
2
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press, 2006. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Paperback
Condition
Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press, 2006. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
4
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press, 2006. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press, 2006. Paperback. Very Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.47
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game : How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game : How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$10.81
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove/Atlantic, Incorporated. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.81
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game : How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game : How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
Better World Books
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$10.81
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove/Atlantic, Incorporated. Used - Very Good. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.81
Free Delivery to USA
The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern...
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball

by Deford, Frank

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Edition
Complete Numbers Sta
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780802142474 / 0802142478
Quantity available
1
Seller
Ergodebooks
Item price
A$13.45
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grove Press, 2006-03-02. Complete Numbers Sta. paperback. Used: Good. 6.00x0.75x9.00. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$13.45
Free Delivery to USA
Show all copies
Back to top↑

Please wait a moment while we load the requested page.