It was the tale of two opposite ends of a career.

Amos Rusie had starred as a dominating pitcher for the New York Giants for eight seasons highlighted by five straight seasons of 30 or more wins (1890-1894), while Christy Mathewson was an unknown 20-year old just drafted by the Cincinnati Reds for a price of $100.

On Dec. 15, 1900, a trade between these two future Hall of Famers occurred in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided deals of all-time.

Before the trade, John Brush, the Cincinnati Reds owner, was in negotiations with the New York Giants’ owner, Andrew Freedman about buying the Giants. Although Rusie compiled 248 career wins in just nine seasons, Freedman agreed to trade away the Hoosier Thunderbolt to Cincinnati in exchange for Mathewson. It turns out that Freedman was fully aware that Rusie’s arm was failing and his days were numbered.