August 27, 1918 – Talk about putting one’s country above self, and sacrificing. Baseball legend, Christy Mathewson resigned as the Cincinnati Reds manager in order to accept a commission as a captain in the chemical warfare branch of the US Army. America was embroiled in World War I at the time in Europe.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

The Evolution of Triathlon Pacing: From Iron Men to Digital Calculators
Triathlon is one of the youngest major sports with a specific, documentable origin story.

The Evolution of Prediction: From Ancient Gambling to FanDuel Predict
A Modern Take on a Long Tradition of Sports Forecasting Image by David from

The Result No One Expected Is Usually Built Earlier Than It Looks
A true upset does not feel surprising only because the underdog wins. It lands

FIFA World Cup’s Worst Ever Cases of Inter-Squad Turmoil
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and while excitement levels are ramping

The 2026 Transfer Window Sparks Early Attention
Off-season activity in soccer during 2026 keeps showing familiar patterns: big-name transfers, shifts in

How Online Sportsbooks Have Changed the Way Fans Experience Games
Sports have always been about moments, but the way fans experience those moments has

The Oakland Raiders Depth at Tight End During the 1970s
The Oakland Raiders experienced a good degree of glory during the 1970s, as they

What Happened the First Time Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Played at the FIFA World Cup?
The upcoming World Cup will be a monumental one for plenty of reasons. But