Eddie Mathews (b. 1931 - d. 2001) is regarded as one of the greatest 3rd basemen of all time. He played in the majors from 1952 to 1968 for the Braves, Astros and Tigers. He retired at age 36 with 2,315 hits, 512 home runs and .271 batting average. He led the league in home runs twice (1953 - 47 and 1959 - 46) and hit 40 or more home runs four times. Mathews would form a potent one-two power punch in the Braves' lineups of the mid '50s to mid 60's with Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Their combined home runs as teammates (863) moved them ahead of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig for most all-time by teammates. Mathews was traded to the Houston Astros before the 1967 season and became the eight player to reach 500 home runs when he connected off of Juan Marichal.
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Mathews is the only player who played for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.
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Mathews' 1952 Topps rookie card is the second-most expensive card in that set to (duuuh) the Mickey Mantle.
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Ty Cobb said of Mathews "I've only known three or four perfect swings in my time. This lad has one of them.
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Mathews was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1978 (his 5th ballot????) with 79.4%(really?) of the vote. I sincerely believe that this is proof that Mathews is one of the more underrated Hall of Famers there is.
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Mathews was picked to be the first athlete shown on the cover of the first issue of Sports Illustrated in 1954.
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Mathews managed the Braves from 1972 to 1974 and was managing when Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run.
(HALL OF FAME 12)
(DECEASED 83)
(MANAGER 16)
Here is my Eddie Mathews autographed ball that I got a couple months ago. Thought it would be cool to showit along with his '55.
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