Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-04
Muggsy McGraw Planning Team for Years Ahead
Giants Manager Operates a Training School

of the older players. He is learning
the weaknesses Of the opposing
pitchers.
Some day he may take his place
in the regular line, and when he
does he will be practically a An
ishcd outfieldcr McGraw does not
believe in putting an ineXperi-
eneed man into critical games
whether he is pitcher or an out
fielder or anything else, and the
wisdom of his course has been
proven time and again.
Arthur Shafer. the crack Cali
foInian, can hardly be classed as
recruit student He could take his
place in the regular line right
now. He has gained his experience
as the others must gain 1t, and he
is out of the regular line only be-
cause Of the fact that equally bril-
liant players who have the added
value of longer service stand in his
way.
Arthur Fletcher had to take his
tutn on the bench until last year.
when the trade for Herzog opened
the way for regular service, and
Fletcher has been great player
from the moment he brokeAin.
Fred Merkle sat back for several
years, and 50 did Herzog when he
first joined the Giants before going
to Boston.
Meyers Worked Way Up.
Chief Meyers played second fiddle
for a time when he joined the
Giants, but finally worked his way
TO the position of first catcher of
the club. Nov, Arthur Wilson. a
very fine receiver. is the second
man, While behind him is Grover
Cleveland Hartley, who will some
day he a great star
McGraW does not try to hurry
the development Of a man. He goes
along slowly and carefully with
him, studying not only his ability.
bat his temperament. and the day
that McGfaw says a man is ready
YOU can wager he is. That Is usual
ly true, too when McGraw says a
man is done, His mistakes in judg-
ment on ball players have been
mighty few and far between. How
many youngsters discarded by him
after trials have become stars?
Beneath his brusque mannerisms
and way of speaking McGraw has
an infinite patience Errors of
judgment may initiate him, but er-
rors of hands or feet are never no
ticed. A boot" means nothing TO
him. A bone" arouses his ire. He
will take hold of youngster who
is so raw that the average manager
would probably release him after a
glance; work him along very pa
tiently, until one day he presents a
new star
believe that McGraw can see a
bail player quicker than any man in
the business. ! doubt if it takes
him more than a day or so to cor
rectly estimate a fellow, and many
time he has demonstrated his
JuNeoiilVliA ny turning iUOSG SOlllt
youngster whose work most people
thought stamped him as a coming
sensation and clinging to anothe
raw recruit, who has shown the
casual observer nothing.
McGraw saw" Tesreau.
Last s0ring | remember. there
was a great deal of talk about this
and that recruit pitcher in the
training camp. McGraw overheard
some Of the correspondents dis
cussing the different men, and
finally he remarked quietly:
We'll, you fellows can have all
that kind-In take this big boy
Tesreau for mine"
And Tesreau has fulfilled Nc
Graw's judgment.
McGraw likes players OF his own
making. He makes fewer deals fo'
men from other teams than any OF
the managers. He prefers a player
who mas been through his own per
sonal school He would pay any
amount for an experienced player
if he felt that the veteran could
help him win pennant, but as
general proposition YOU would havs
hard time handing him an old
timer from some other team. He
likes his own productions