Eddie Mathews

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mathews was a legendary power hitter whose unique swing drew comparisons to Mickey Mantle. Hall of Famer Warren Spahn noted that while Mantle used his weight, Mathews relied heavily on his wrists, creating one of the most graceful swings in history. His pull-hitting strength famously inspired the 'Williams Shift,' where opponents moved the second baseman toward first base and the shortstop to the right side, leaving a large gap between second and third to counter Ted Williams' dominance; this defensive alignment was often discussed in the same breath as Mathews' power, though it was never officially named after him. He hit 47 home runs in 1953 after the Braves moved to Milwaukee, leading the National League that year and again in 1959. Between 1954 and 1966, Mathews and Hank Aaron combined for 863 home runs, surpassing the Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig duo as the all-time leaders. He was one of only two players to homer with a teammate at least 50 times with two different teammates: he did this with Henry Aaron (75 times) and Joe Adcock (56 times).

In Their Own Story

The 1957 World Series stands as a defining moment in Mathews' career. The Braves defeated the New York Yankees in seven games, with Mathews hitting a game-winning home run in the tenth inning of Game four. He also made the final out of that Series, forcing Gil McDougald on a grounder hit by Moose Skowron. In 1967, after spending his entire adult life with the Braves franchise, he was traded to the Houston Astros and then to the Detroit Tigers during a pennant race. In 1968, his final season, Mathews appeared as a pinch-hitter in Game one of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals before playing his last game at third base in Game four, logging a hit and a walk in the loss. The Tigers went on to win the series in seven games, securing Mathews' second ring.

Reader's Guide

Mathews spent most of his career with the Braves organization (1952–1966), playing 1,944 games during their Milwaukee tenure alone. He was signed by the Boston Braves in 1949 after developing into a star at Santa Barbara High School, where the field now bears his name. After splitting 1951 between minor league teams, he made the major league roster in 1952 and hit 25 home runs. Following his playing career, he coached for the Atlanta Braves in 1971 and managed them from mid-1972 until July 1974, a tenure that included Hank Aaron hitting his 715th home run on April 8, 1974. Mathews was fired due to a team slump despite being a friend to Aaron and Darrell Evans. He later served as a scout and coach for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics, where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1982.

Did You Know?

• Mathews is the only player to have represented the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta.
• He was NOT on the cover of the first-ever issue of Sports Illustrated magazine; that honor went to Joe DiMaggio in 1954.
• Pitcher Sal Maglie noted that Mathews had a tendency to chase 'the low curve on the three-and-two pitch.'
• Hank Aaron, not Eddie Mathews, hit the game-winning home run in the tenth inning of Game four of the 1957 World Series.
• He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1982 while working as an instructor for the Oakland Athletics, but doctors ruled out cancer.