Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-04
Mugg e:s McGraw Planning Team for Years Ahead
Giants Manager Operates 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
ished outfielder. McGraw does not
believe in putting an inexperf-
epced 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
fornian, can hardly be classed as =
recruit student. He could take mis-
place in the regular line right
now. He has gained his experience
as the others must gain it, and he
is out of the regular line onlv be-
cause OF the fact that equally bril-
liant players who have the added
value of longer service stand in his
way.
81 IA ul Il ltlNllci lldQ 70 I'd Ne HIS
turn on the bench until last year
when the trade for Herzog opened
the way for regular service, and
Fletcher has been a great player
from the moment he broke in.
Fred Merkle sat back for several
years, and so did 'Herzog when he
first Joined the Giants before going
to Boston.
Meyers Worked Way Up.
Chief Meyers played second fiddl.
for a time when he Joined the
Giants, but finally worked his way
to the position Of frst catcher OF
the club. Now, Arthur Wilson,
very fine receiver, is the second
man, while behind him IS Grover
Cleveland Hartley, who will some
day be 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.
but his temperament, and the day
that McGraw SAYS a man Is ready
YOU can wager he is. That is usual
ly true, too, when McGraw says
man is done. His mistakes in juda-
ment on ball players have been
mighty few an6 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 irritate him, but er-
rors of hands or feet are never no
ticed. A boot means nothing 20
him A bone" arouses his ire. He
will take hold Of a youngster who
is so raw that the average manager
would probably release him after
glance; work him along very pa
tiently, until one day he presents
new star.
believe that McGraW can see
ball player quicker than any man IN
the business | doubt if 1t takes
him more than day or 80 to cor
rectly estimate a fellow, and many
a time he has demonstrated his
judgment by turning loose some
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 "Ssw" Tesreau,
Last sDring. | remember, there
was great deal Of talk about ths
and that recruit pitcher In the
training camp. McGraw overheard
some of the CORES pondents dis
cussing the different men, ana
finally he remarked quietly:
We'll, you fellows can have all
that kind-Tl 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 t7'
men from other teams than any OF
the managers. He prefers a playr
who has been through his own pei
sonal school. He would pay any
amount for an experienced playe'
if he felt that the veteran could
help him win a pennant, but as
general proposition you would have
a hard time handing him an Old
timer from some other team be
likes his OU-D nro1uptiptrs