The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-13
SAYS HE
HAS GOOD REASONS
Fails to Tell Why His Team
WI! Not Play Amerl-
can League

GrdW, manager OF Inc New YORK Ma
tional baseball team, and Harry Pull
liam, president of the National league,
made known yesterday their views on
the subject of post-seasDn series with
the champions of the American league.
Pulliam merely had to say to Ban
Johnson, president of 1.-The American
league. that the matter was entirely
between the individual club owners,
and that as president of the league he
had nothing to do with 1t.
McGraw, however, had more to say. {
He issued a statement to the base
ball patrons of New York, in which
he boosted of the prowess CT his team
and abused the American league In it
he says he has his reasons for the
stand he has taken, and then leaves the
patrons Of the game, whom he adj
dresses, to guess what those reasons
are, for careful peruSal of his letter
fails to show reason of any kind, good
or bad for the stand he has taken. and
his determination not to give the base
ball public of New York chance to see
two championship teams on the dia-
mOnd at one time.
He says his team is not afraid to
play any team in the world. which Is
true, for there is not a man on his
team that is not anxious for this series
of games, because the stand, taken by
those in authority has made the whole
team look like a band of cutters,
which they are not
McGraw's open letter to the baseball
public follows:
ITO the Baseball Patrons of New
York: want TO go clearly and en-
phatically on record in, the matter of
play post-season series. was never
accused of being coward. 1t is not
my nature to hide behind any man. 1
never yet did it and l am not going TO
begin now. The people of New York
have been kind enough to give me some
credit for bringing the pennant to New
York and if there is any just blame
for criticism for the clubs action in
protecting that highly priced honor the
blame should rest on my shoulders, not
Mr.. Brush's. for l and l alone am re-
sponsible for the clubs action How
ever, when the facts are known there
will be no blame. Mr. Brush's only
part in it is supporting me, as he has
always done.
s'T have my reasons for my stand and
they are good reasons. / am willing to
stand before the public and the patrons
of the New York club with them and be
judged by them.
when l came to New York three
years ago the team was in last place.
Since that time. on and off the field, I
have worked to bring the pennant to
New York. The result is known. Now
that the New York team, has won this
honor for one win not stand to see ii
tossed away like a rag. The pennant
means something to me- 1t is the first
have ever won. 1T means something
to our players, and they are withsIne in
my stand. We are not a. lot of graft
ers looking for box office receipts at the
expense of our club, The club is not
run on these lines. If we had wanted
to sacrifice the sport for box office re-
ceipts we would not have won the pen
nant as we did. We could have eased
UP and made it close, but we didn't. We
never stopped until we clinched the
pennant, even if it did rob the game of
the interest of pennant race. The
club never complained. When the fight
was hot we played to thousands. After
the race was won we played to hun
dreds. But that was square sport and
the stockholders never complained. If
we didn't sacrifice our race in our own
league to the box Office we certainly
are not going to put in jeopardy the
highest honor in baseball simply for
the box office inducements.
II know the American league and its
methods. ought to, for paid for my
knowledge. They induced me to join
them when they raided the National
league and as a souvenir of my expert
ence they still have my money.
ST have not forgotten its boast when
it entered New York last year. 1t
promised to put the National league
club in this city out of business by
June. That was the American league
idea of craftsmanship then.
Never while / am manager OF the
New York club and while this club
holds the pennant, will 1 consent to en-
ter into a haphazard box office game
with Ban Johnson & Co. No one, not
even my bitterest enemy, ever accused
me of being a fool, and am not going
to give them a chance now-tO say that
/ am a candidate for Bloomingdale.
IF the National league should see mt
to place post-season games on the same
plane as championship games, and sur
round them with the same protection
and safeguards for square sport as
championship games, then and not till
then will / ever take part in them
Now about the team. A better team
was never gotten together-we are
afraid of no team. They are with me
to a man in my stand. I put it up to
the team one by one, and they showed
their colors.
I'VE are here and here to stay; we
will defend the pennant in 1905, and
hope to for many years. We are willing
to be judged by our patrons and the
supporters of honest sport 80
John ]. MeGraw."
1:I Ga n,,4 &c ro,,y$