The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-09

The surprising success of the Balti-
more club has made it's manager, John
]. McGraw, the most prominent fig
ure in baseball, says the Sporting
News. Nine years ago, when in his
seventeenth year, he began his profes-
sional career as member of the Olean
club of the New York State league, and
in 1891, after winters experience in
Cuba, under the management of AL
Lawson, he Joined the Cedar Rapids
club of the Western association, from
which he graduated the next season into
the Baltimore club which was then
managed by the veteran Billie Barnie
His remarkable talents were developed
under Manager Hanlon, who succeeded
Barnie at Baltimore in 1892. The con-
spicuous part played by McGraw in
winning the pennant for the Orioles IN
1894 and. 1895 and his subsequent ca4
reer are part of baseball history. In
the spring of 1896, while on a trip with
the Baltimores, he was stricken with
typhoid fever, from the effects of which
he did not recover until near the close
of the season; in fact, his strength and
skill were not fully restored until late
in 1897. Delicate of physique McGraw
ness what he lacks in muscular power,
and so capable a critic as Manager
Hanlon has often declared that this big
little man has never had within his
recollection an equal as an inside player
and as a run-getter. AS an infielder
he is not as accurate on plays as Col
Inns. for instance nor does his batting
record equal that of Keller, but as "a
player is more valuable to his team.
Utterly fearless of being hit by pitched
bali, skHlful at fouling off strikes, he
gets twice the number of bases on balls
in season that any other player does.
From April Is to June II he did not fail
to. reach first at least once in a single
game, and he made the surprising rec
ord of getting on the bases nine times
in the, double header between the Su-
perbas and Orioles at Baltimore
The standing of the Baltimore club is
proof positive of his managerial ability.
With the exception of himself and Cap
tain Robinson, it is team of discards
Aided by Robinson, McGraw has made
them factor in the race, with fight
ing chance to finish third Instead of
showing temper and reproving his play
ers for blunders, McGraW treats them
with consideration and encourages and
enthuses the delinquents to renewed
efforts. He has wisely changed his
course toward umpires and while insist
Il .,
not nag them or engage, in .quarrels
with them, because he realizes such a
policy would handicap his team, The
Orioles are the best drawing card in the
National league this year -
Malachi Kittridge, the catcher re-
leased by the Louisville baseball club
for not giving his best services. in a
signed statement of 1000 words makes
sensational charges regarding the man
agement of the club. He SAYS he and
the other men disposed of are not the
disorganizers, but that President Drew
fuss and Vice President Dehler are the
men responsible because of their meth
DDS. AS to Magee he says:
"Dreyfuss called a special meeting of
the players at the club house to humil-
late this player. He said to him in their
presence: 'Magee, l kept you from the
poor house last winter, and now you are
throwing us down. You are not giving
the club your best services
MY release was no surprise to ME.
/ had been expecting lit for weeks. At
the Burnet house in Cincinnati Drey-
fuss came to my room and informed
me that unless business picked up in
the near future he would be compelled
to release all his high-prieed players,
myself and four others, and fill in with
cheap men.
"Dreyfuss does not know any more |
about managing a ball team than a pig
does about philosophy. He roasts mis- |
players numerically and gives them |
curtain lectures whenever he sits on |
The bench. He instructed Clarke to fine |
any player $25 who made an error, ard |
still he expected the men to go after |
hard chances In justice to Clarke ii /
can be said that he refused TO do this |
point blank"
The management is also accused Of |