The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-15
.MATTHEWSON ON
M'GRAW'S SUCCESS

Christy Mathewson tells why Man
ager McGraw has been so successful
as the leader OF the giants. He says:
II have often been asked to what I
would attribute John McGraws's sue
cess as a baseball manager. In the
first place, his method of handling
players conduces to getting the best
possible results ont of them. All play
ers cannot be treated In the same
manner. One man has to be patted
upon the back, while another needs a
sharp reprinand to make him put
forth his best efforts or remedy his
faults.
"McGraw has the supreme tact TO
employ these opposite methods in the
way that causes no friction with the
team, with the result that all the men
pull together for the success of the
club. Every one knows that harmony
is essential to a winning baseball
team Many teams on paper appear
strong enough TO win the champion
ship, but because of some internal
friction they fall short of their pos
sibilitles. On the other hand, McGraw
landed the pennant for New York in
1904 with team that was not Sc
riousiy rated at the opening of the
season as a contender for first place.
The good fellowship and pull together
spirit that animated that team could
not be excelled, and John McGraw's
lubricating tact kept the internal ma
ctinery working smoothly from flrst
TO last.
"A second great factor in McGraw's
success is his knowledge of inside
baseball. He is constantly planning
to pull off the unexpected, and in the
execution of his plans he always takes
into consideration the abilities of the
players called upon to carry out his
scheme of play. The squeeze play, so
popular with some managers, does not
appeal TO McGraw. but every other
trick or device by which run can be
put across the plate has constantly
been successfully used in his cam
paigns on the diamond He objects
to the squeeze play because he be-
lieves that a brainy pitcher ought to
break up the play and prevent list sue
cess by pitching the ball so wide that
the batsman is not able to bunt IT,
"The delayed steal. the bunt-and
run for second, the hit-and-run from
first, or the clean steal Of third are
all plays that can be worked with a
fair degree of success by certain men
against particular teams. These and
many other plays may contribute to
team wark or inside baseball are con-
stantly practiced by McGraw's team,
ready to be sprung whenever the
watchful eye Of the alert manager
sees an opening.
"Of course the plays are not always
successful, for quick thinking oppon-
ents may anticipate them and break
them up but If a play fails because
OF some act of omission or commits
sion on the part of the players. Me-
Graw is quick to detec+ the fault and
devise a remedy. Some managers
have considered football and lacrosse
as suitable Cor spring practice for
baseball players. but the giants are
drilled and drilled in baseball, not only
physically. but mentally. Tactics
play large part in McGraw's meth
Cd. and a player who cannot learn
the fine points Of the game unuer him
will never EXCEL in our national pas
time.
TN the selection and retention OF
players McGraw's judgement is rare
" at fault. When h. became mana
ger of the giants one of his first acts
was to release ten or twelve players.
People who thought they knew de-
clare he was letting some good ma
terial slip through his fingers, but
only one man In the lot has retained
q major league berth.
"The trade by (which New York ac-
quired Tenney and BridweIl was much
criticised. but the result has justified
McGraws judgement. McGraw has the
nerve to stand by his own judgement.
and this was never better exempIifled
than when Larry Doyle made good at
second base last year: McGraw had
faith In Doyle from the beginning OF
spring practice, and was deaf to the
general. criticism that ne was making
q mistake.
Il have been asked IL ! shall NOT
miss Bresnahan. Indeed I shall miss
hirn, both an q catcher and as COM
panicn; but 7 believe that the deal by
which we lost Bresnahan viii
strengthen thu team Tn two depart
fnents OF the game where we were
weak. When the season Of 1908 Ii fin-
ished 1t ID my belief we shall again
applaud McCraw's wisdom Iii engi.
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