It was in the New York City area in the mid-nineteenth century that
various pitching styles were invented, developments that changed
baseball history. In 1883, the Giants became a powerhouse, hiring the
finest pitchers in the country. In the twentieth century, the talent
pool kept changing, but the quality did not. Christy Mathewson, Iron Man
McGinnity, and Rube Marquard all won more than two hundred games in the
majors, and each played a part in many pennant victories for John
McGraw's Giants. In 1921, the Yankees won their first championship, and
their domination of the American League that followed was unprecedented.
Pitching was both effective and exciting for New York fans, whether in
Yankee Stadium or the Polo Grounds. New York Aces: The First 75 Years
covers the history of pitching in the Big Apple, with equal attention to
the American League and National League franchises.