The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-20
They Are Playing McGrew

When another team is playing the Polo ground.
without subtracting in the least from the proficiency
OF each particular Giant star, it is playing New
York, but McGraw. He has the situation under his
thumb every minute sitting back Of the firing line
and handling his a commander handles his
divisions and brigades.
Il suggest what each player might do and he
usually likes do it,, is McGraw's unpretcntious
manner OF describing the complete grasp he holds
over each phase of the contest
you sec, its this way l tell a man that T want
HIM to make such and such play, sacrifice or to
hit the first ball, to bunt Perhaps he doesn't think
that I'm right Perhaps ne considers that his iuds-
this particular second is better than mine
But have him here say You go ahead and do
as say III take all the responsibility That fetchc,
him He does what 1 want him to without hesta-
ton, because if he does his best to carry out INV
suggestion and fails it IS my fault 1t lets him out
find that the men like to shift the responsibility that
way. think | know my business and I'm ready 10
take the responsibility for any move may favor So
VIC get smoothly"
'McGraw bears no malice toward those who prefer
to call him ~Muggsy1 He has grown used to IT,
Years ago, when he youngstcr. O r. Cavlo~
whose death removed OF the best and faircst
sporting writer's who ever lived noticed that tfat
little fellow had a good deal to say and a rather
positive of saying it. Being in search of good
descriptive title to express his trait he evolved the
and the name stuck "Muggsy". was inclined 10
resent the matter trifc too personal at lrs but
he soon wore out Of that attitude
As matter of fact, the manager Of the Giants
is not particularly sensitive to favorable or unfa
vorable continent. His word first and last is that
he knows his work; do it and keep on doing it.
and IS therefore sure of himself at every moment
Coincidence has aided him and has served to Offset a
temper with spring attachment. the complement Of
his undoubted executive qualities
There are able managers of baseball clubs in otbcr
parts OF the country, possibly some as able as Nc
Graw But there is something about the appearance
OF the man. his versatility, his keen business abrA
his consummate leadership, his knowledge of me
and the way to handle them, that entities him abov.
all others to the name of Napoleon 1lcCiraw. Watch
him any day when the Giants are doing things and
you will see that there is a reason
Just as he invented and brought to perfection the
method OF laying down bunt and beating it ont
and many another tricky play in his playing davs he
mas studied and perfected the possibilities of the field
commanders post beyond anything that was ever
known before IN that end Of the game He would
make success OF any business undertaking as he has
OF baseball He represents the game in it's CONNER
cial aspect and in its perfection as a sport.
While as the master of his craft McGraw under
stands and makes OF all the fine points that have
been invented, he IS that such an advance has
improved the box Office view of baseball
The man in the stand likes to sec the boards
knocked off the fence, he says The ordinary snec
tator misses the best plays by mile If there IS
clever bit OF head work he passes it off with the
thought that the player just happened to be there
Just happened TO place the ball where it did the most
good The close, tight game, the really good game is
apt to make the crowd grumbc A 3 to 2 score VIII
seno them on IN bad humor while IA 10 will
make them yell themselves hoarse. when the exb;h-
ton was without merit from the inside standDo;n,N
The scientific side has been developed bvTbe
pressure OF competition and the necessity Of winning
TO make 1t pay. not because the public demanded the
change The result, of course has been Improvement
It's great game