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experts of the time believed that George's power swing would make him vulnerable to off-speed pitches and would lead to a high number of strikeouts. But Brother Matthias understood that George was special, that his hand-eye coordination was so exceptional that he could swing for power without sacrificing contact. He trusted his star pupil's abilities and encouraged him to develop his power to its full potential. The Final Years at St. Mary's and the Brother's Full Realization As George entered his late teens, Brother Matthias came to a profound realization: he was not just training a good ballplayer, but a potential superstar. He began to make contacts in the baseball world, reaching out to semiprofessional and professional teams to see if there was interest in his star pupil. He was determined to help George transition from St. Mary's to a professional career, and he worked tirelessly to make that happen. George's skills continued to improve throughout his late teens. By 1913, at age eighteen, he was an extraordinary athlete with a powerful build. He stood six feet tall and weighed about 170 pounds—not yet the massive figure he would become, but already formidable. He threw with the velocity of a major league pitcher and hit with the power of a future Hall of Famer. The Xaverian Brothers made a crucial decision about George's future: they would allow him to pursue a professional baseball career when the right opportunity came along. This was a significant departure from the usual fate of St. Mary's graduates, who typically went into trades or semi-skilled labor. The brothers recognized that George had a God-given talent that could lift him out of poverty, and they were determined to help him achieve his potential. Brother Matthias would remain a crucial figure in George's life even after he left St. Mary's. They would correspond regularly, and George would visit the institution whenever he was in Baltimore. In 1926, George would demonstrate his gratitude in a spectacular fashion: he bought Brother Matthias a brand-new Cadillac, a lavish gift that reflected the deep affection and respect he felt for his mentor. When the car was later destroyed in an accident, George bought him another one without hesitation. Throughout his life, George would speak of Brother Matthias with tremendous admiration and gratitude. He said that Brother Matthias was "the finest man I ever knew" and credited him with saving his life. The relationship between the troubled boy from Pigtown and the gentle giant from Nova Scotia was one of the most significant and meaningful in George's entire life—a testament to the power of mentorship and the transformative potential of sport.