Review of "The Old Ball Game"

Frank Deford’s portrait of John McGraw and Christy Mathewson goes beyond box scores to explore one of baseball’s most enduring partnerships. Across sixteen seasons with the New York Giants, the fiery manager and the clean‑cut ace forged a friendship that defined the franchise’s rise. Readers who appreciate the human side of the game will find this an engaging and revealing look at two Hall of Famers whose contrasts made them unforgettable.

Title/Author:

“The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball” by Frank Deford

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Two of the most legendary figures of early 20th‑century baseball, John McGraw and Christy Mathewson, spent sixteen seasons together with the New York Giants. Both arrived in New York through the loose, often chaotic player‑assignment rules of the era, yet by the time Mathewson left to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1916, the two men had become inseparable. They lived in the same apartment with their wives, traveled together, and built a partnership that helped turn the Giants into one of the dominant teams of their time. In this book, veteran sportswriter Frank Deford tells their story with the sensitivity and human insight that marked his best work.

Deford’s strength has always been his ability to illuminate the people behind the sport, and this book is a prime example. I’m not usually drawn to baseball books that focus heavily on personalities and off‑field relationships, but this one succeeds because Deford understands how those relationships shaped the Giants’ success. His portrayal of Mathewson aligns with the familiar image: the clean‑cut, All‑American star whose grace, good looks, and unmatched pitching talent made him one of the era’s defining figures. Readers who have spent time with other Mathewson biographies—like I have—won’t find new revelations, but they will come away with a renewed appreciation for both the player and the man.

McGraw, meanwhile, emerges as the fierce, uncompromising manager history remembers. Despite his small stature, he was a force—combative with umpires, demanding of players, and unafraid to challenge owners. Yet Deford also shows McGraw’s softer side, especially toward players whose talent he believed could help him win. Mathewson was one of those. Hal Chase was another, and Chase’s presence becomes one of the book’s most revealing contrasts. Chase, a gifted first baseman but notorious gambler and womanizer, was released by Mathewson during his tenure with the Reds. McGraw, desperate to revive a Giants team slipping into the second division after three straight World Series appearances, chose to overlook Chase’s flaws and sign him. The contrast between their reactions to Chase highlights the complexity of both men and the depth of their differences.

These human moments are where Deford’s writing shines brightest. The on‑field action—especially Mathewson’s World Series performances—is covered, but those sections lack the emotional pull of the personal stories. Fortunately, the book leans far more toward the relationships, tensions, and shared experiences that defined McGraw and Mathewson’s partnership. For readers interested in the dynamic between two Hall of Famers who helped shape the early Giants, this is a rewarding and insightful read.

Link: Amazon.com: The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball eBook : Deford, Frank: Sports & Outdoors