Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-06
M'GRAW' FIRST JOB
CINCINNATI COMMISSION MERCHANT
BROUGHT our aMUGsY..
The Plucky Lit4e Manager and
Player Has Always Been .
TOp-Notcher.

Top-Notcher.
Billy wittrock. the1 Cincinnati boy who
many years.. tells an interesting story of
engagement with the baltimore. Club, says
the Commercial-Tribune Of that city.
"JJhn McGraw, in 1891, was playing at
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the Illinois-Iowa
League, and principally played short field.
I can tell you all about the way it hap
pened that he went to Baltimore. AL
Buckenberger. I saw-once. as 1t was at
tributed to him, claimed that he brought
out John McGraw, and others have made
the same claim. 1t was John Cedar, who
is now a commission merchant in Cincin-
natl, who was once known as the Jerry
Denny OF the Pacific coast. who brought
out McGraw. and NO, one else.i' That sea-
son l was first at Terre Haute until the
Northwestern League, of which that town
was q member. quit the season. when /
signed with Cedar to pitch for Cedar
Rapids.
'.Wally Taylor. late with Syracuse. and
Hank Smith, were on the team that sea-
sen. Wally lives over the river. When /
Joined the Cedar Rapids team it had the
tail-end honors and 1t being strengthened
up, we went out and made a record of
twenty-one games won 1 pitched ten, and
at the end OF the season we landed in sec
ond place. while Billy Murray, now at the
head of the Providence team. won the
pennant for Quincy. The splendid squirt
made by the Cedar Rapids team created
some comment in the east and the players
were watched.
Johnny McGraw was on the team and
played just the same sample of ball he
does today" continued Wfttrock. He
was then as quick as creased lightning
ard played the game with dash and fire.
while his intelligence was going hand in
hand with him while he was at work
the field. He showed remarkable prof.
cheney a batsman and was hard one
to pitch to-just as he is to this day
while as a base runner he simply had us
all skinned to death. He contributed to
more than one victory by his daring base
running, l can tell you, and had all OF the
catcherS guessing.
well, Billie Barnie heard OF McGraw In
some manner and commenced his efforts to
get him. l always had an idea that 1t was
one-eyed Hank Smith who tipped Nc
Graw off to Barnie, as Smith lived in Bal
timore and knew Barnie well. At least one
day Barnie wrote Smith inquiring IL there
was possible chance for him to get Nc
Graw for his Baltimore team. Smith re-
ceiyed the letter just as We were about to
board the train at Cedar Rapids, en- route
to Ottumwa, Iowa. and at once showed me
the missive. Smith. Cedar and myself were
occupying a double seat. when Smith
showed the letter to Cedar. who. afteS
reading it, said he wished we wouldn't say
anything about Its having been received.
Cedar added that he wanted to study the
I'VE had just finished the game of the
second day at Ottumwa,s continued Witt
rock. when a message was handed to
Smith by the operator on the ground. 1t
was from Barnie, who asked Smith:
get McGraw? Let The Know at once If
SO will arrange terms with him on arrival
Hank Smith failed to tsee Cedar at the
close Of the game-in fact 1t was late in the
evening when he delivered BARNES urgent
inquiry to Cedar. We were stopping at the
Ottumwa House. and when Cedar came in
1 o'clock in the morringsll Cedar asked me
what thought about Letting McGraw leave
the team. and I well remember the answer
i gave him l remarked?g
John said l. If you don't let Mac go
you will be doing him an injustice. Here is
the chance of his,li and the boy can GER
tainy make good. AT any rate, don't pre-
vent him from going +zF.@.@ =.
TT was even then McGraw's ambition to
get into the big circuit, and l remember
having heard him say on more than one Oc-
casion that he could hold his own and that
he could play the infield with any of them
II given chance" continued Wittrock.
He even said that he knew he was strong
enough for the American Association and
knew he could convince the people of that
fact. Well. Cedar finally concluded that 1
was right and was led to this conclusion. 1
think. by the earnest manner in which
Smith and / argued the thing out.
I'VE went to McGraw's room and Cedar
pounded on the door waking the man Bar
ME coveted much McGraw crawled out
of bed. and the first question Cedar pro-
pounded was:
Mac. Billie Barnie wants you to join
the Baltimore team at once. What do you
think of ito
''McGraw replied that it would be nice
lift for him, and then went back at Cedar
with
But what do you think about 1t, John?
Will you let me CO.?
How soon can you get ready to leave?
asked Cedar.
In half an hour was Macs reply.
When is there a train?
You can leave at 2:3O, if you care to-
was Manager Godars reply.
This proved sufficient for McGraw. who
Immediately jumped out of bed and began
to pack his grip, said Wittrock. HE
would chuck a collar and a stocking into
his grip. and then turn and talk about his
change with wonderful enthusiasm. This
was his program for so long time that we
his train. Then the things were stuffed into
his grip In helter-skelter fashion and
everything Of his belongings gathered up
Then we made the rounds of the rooms Of
bade them all goodbye and was in return
wished all the good luck bright future
seemed to-and did-have in store for him.
The most of the boys simply jumped I'D and
dressed and went along with us to the train
and saw him off for Baltimore. Cedar told
him he knew where there was an opening
for him IL he failed to make good When
the train pulled out Mac was as happy as a
school boy.
"A few days elapsed" said Wittrock,
land the first crack out Of the box Nc
Graw wrote back:
It's nice! Just give me a little time
and have got 'em skinned to deathp
I'VE were all highly elated over Macs
success. and Smith and l always felt
pleased that we had advised Cedar to per-
NIT him to go to Barnie. So. you see,
Cedar is entitled to the credit of bringing
out John McGraw, although others have
claimed that distinction. Oh, yes, Cedar re-
ceived fair sum for Macs release and
was naturally criticised at Cedar Rapids for
letting him go. That was to be expected /
always liked McGraw and knew he would
prove popular player. Good luck and sue
cluded Wittrock. ,-brs:a