The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-01-24
BY Tin Wright.

| McGFaw, Giants manager, has
been called everything from THE
Little Napoleon" to things not re-
Ipoated in conservative circles. The
name applied the aggressive, stra-
tegic little leader depends upon
the degree to which the speaker
carries his partisanship. For in
stance, in Chicago-but that's an
other story.
McGraw is probably the best
Ipaid man in baseball. Certainly he
is one of the most brilliant lead
ers in the game. They used to
say he had to buy stars; that he
couldn't develop them. but his
career proves the contrary AL
though he didn't win a pennant
last year nor the year previous,
for that matter. McGraw is New
Yorks leading baseball light and
one of the most prominent men in
the game.
As a side line, McGraw has a bill
lizard palace, where he is to be
! found when the national game
isn't being played. | dropped into
| the big room with its shaded drop
lights and green covered tables in
time to hear Jawn give voice to
the. by this time, widely quoted
utterance, that he was strong for
the "chesty" player.
And John J. said more. He said
he believed in getting an early
start. not only to separate the dead
wood as quickly as possible, but
because the team that gets the
| jump comes home in front several
times out of many. He gave adj
lvice which future Lajoies, Wag-
ners and Cobbs will do well to
tuck inside their hat bands.
THE Giants will report at Mar
lin, Tex. early" said McGraw. 81
believe that getting away on the
right foot means much. The team
ready physically to start at full
speed and hold the pace is better
fitted to land in front in Novem-
Der than the one that has to come
from behind.
81 look for a splendid year. The
fact that the public wants a fast,
hard-fig team was shown
ures. We outdrew every team on
the road last season."
''How do your recruits look at a
distance?" | asked.
/ Recruits generally look good
at distance. Some retain their
appearance when they reach the
majors; the majority fail to.
think we have a bunch of fast
boys.
The trouble with the average
minor Lacquer is that he starts in
by fearing he won't make good. AS
the days pass and he isn't sent
back he gets confidence and by
the time he is carried into the
championship season and lands a
berth he is prone to consider him
self a fixture and act accordingly.
This is a mistake. No mans
job is safe on a live team unless
he continues to deliver the
goods. Baseball is continuous
struggle to hold jobs. The
youngster who is good in April,
and thinks his job is cinched. may
decorate the bench in September.
III don't mean the cock sure play
er, because | like men who have
confidence. but the man who
grows careless when success is
Ishaking hands with him.
THE life of major Lacquer is
not the easiest way" It's hard,
earnest work. No player can make
good unless he devotes himself to
the game heart and soul. No man
can play baseball and highballs.
He's got to drop one or the other.
Dissipation doesn't double with
success in the major league any
more than it can in any other
/ business.
Some men are wonders one
yeap and buns the next. There's
+, generally a reason. Success makes
some conceited. They believe
they can abuse themselves and
be as good as ever, but they
can't. The man who admitted
wine, women and song were bad
and offered to cut out the song,
built an epigram, but he boosted
a suckers game. The minors are
full of players who played the
white light circuit in fast COM
pany. When a certain physician
said the footlights dimmed a
fighters vision he didn't mean the
ineandescents, but the skirts.
I'm against cigaret smoking
, and drinking. Both are bound to
} ruin the best batting eye that ever
, looked for the seam on a ball.
/ You'll find cigaret stubs are the
guide posts on the path to base
ball oblivion"
what advice do you give
! Iyoungsters?" ! asked.
} II tell them that IL they hope
; to stick they must shake booze and
i cigarets. pay no attention to praise