Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-20
N GRAW GETTING
READY TO RETIRE

Little Napoleon May Quit Base
Ball When Contract With
Giants Runs Out.
HE'S TIRED OF THE WORRY
New York, Aug. l9-John J. Nc /
Graw, manager OF the Giants since
1902, may voluntarily retire from
base ball when his contract with the
New York National League club ex
pires at the end OF next year Nc
Graw, according TO his own state
ment, is gradually becoming weary
OF the trials and tribulations caused
by managing big league ball club.
He has been actively engaged, as
player and team leader, ever since he
broke into fast company with the IA
nous Baltimore Orioles in 1893. In
other words, McGraw has grown gray
in the service of organized base ball
and he believes that he is entitled to
rest.
Since taking hold OF the Giants,
when they were owned by the late
Andrew Freedman. McGraw has
managed pcnnant winning teams in
1904. 1905, 1911, 1912 and 1918, the
Giants capturing one worlds cham
pionship, in 1905, when they beat the
Athletics i'll four out OF five games
Led by McGraw, the Giants made a
fortune for the stockholders of the
New York club and re-established the
prestige and popularity of the Ma
tional league in this city,
| "My contract with President Hemp
stead of the New York club has an
other year to run" said McGraw,
but do no: believe | will sign again
to manage the Giants. | have spent
the greater part OF my life on the ball
field and | am beginning to grow
tired of it all Running major
league ball club is thankleSs task.
It's fine if you win pennant, but 1t S
much different if your team loses,
1t isn't money that need, aud that
is why | fee like retiring to devote
my time to some other Inc OF work.
Looks to Next Year.
"Thc Giants have been greatly
strengthened lately. and | still hope
that they will win the pcnnant. But
we have lost SO many games tins year
that it will be very difficult task to
finish ahead of the Brooklyns. Still,
base ball is so uncertain that any
thing may happen. If the Giants are
unable to win this season, they surely
will lose money for the New York
club, which has gone to heavy eN-
nensc to secure hrst-class team,
| Rut next wear | don't see how the
Giants can lose the championship. 1t
is nv ambition to manage one more
pennant winner and then capture the
worlds series before | decide to get
ont OF base ball
McGraw is aid to be drawing a
salary of $4,000 year from the New
York club. He probably could sign
more profitable contract It he cared
to remain at the head of the GIANTS
II isn't believed that McGraw has the
slightest idea OF holding up his pres
emf employer at the end OF next sea
son bv threatening to retire mas
much as John J. isn't built tnat way
For some time the little manager
friend, have intimated that he is
growing weary Of his burden, so that
tbr statement OF McGraw, quoted
above for the first time, would seem
10 indicate that he really means buSl-
ness
Perhaps President Hemps'cad
knew something about McGra", $
plans when he tried to tic a string to
Chrsty Mathewson, so that the latter
could return from Cincinnati to the
Giants in 1918. Hempsteads desire
to hold onto Matty stirred up much
comment in major league circles, but
it ceased when Big Six was allowed 10
f, 90 TO the Reds as a free agent. ON
Gals OF the New York club and Nc
Graw have repeatedly denied stories
of friction. Apparently they are get
, ting along tremendously. McGraw
has been supported by Hampstead
with a lOtIdl ppiiNy' ''Ne'
600 has been spent by the New York
club this year for kau.t. Rariden
, Anderson. Roush, Sallee and Herzog
TO McGraw's intense satisfaction. In,
eidentally the New York club will
earn big profits on the campaign, az
the Giants have drawn large crowds
at the Polo grounds and away from
home.
Career Spectacular.
McGraw's base ball career has beer
, spectacular. When he first played
shortstop for the Orioles. managed
by Ned Hanlon, twenty three years
ago. he was lively little fellow
weighing about lao pounds, and he
signed a contract that called tol
- 81 200 a year. McGraw quickly SHOWED
i skill at the bat, speed on the base;
| and wonderful agility as an infielder
Hanlon put him on third base in 1904
when the Orioles won the Nationa
r league pennant. but Succumbed tc
= John NJ Wards Giants in the subse'
| queut Temple cup series that year
McGraw, i'll III games, had batting
average OF $40 and was the Orioles