New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-23
M'GRAW LEADS
YOUNGSTERS TO
TRAINING CAMP
Advance Guard of Hope
full Giants Leave To-day
for Marlin
By W. ]. MACBETH


John j. McGraw, for dozen years
the greatest baseball idol of this great
metropolis, will to-day make his hrst
strategic move for another National
League pennant. In charge Of q great
brood of fedglings and fair sprlnk-
ling of old roosters, the master OF the
Polo Grounds coop will set out to-day
for Marlin, Tex, TO groom his pros Ior
the big main that begins IN these parts
next April IL.
Little short Of a world series held eX-
clusively at the Polo Grounds next tall
will satisfy the enthusiasm OF local
fandom. Every one believes Bill Dono-
vans Yankees have as good chance
as anv rival club to take the flag IN the
Johnson circuit. And every one be-
ieves McGraw has the very finest CLUB
of his brilliant career with when 10
start out against a field that does not
measure up to the strength OF some
against which he triumphed IN years
gone by. c.
: The wonderful finish of the Giants
last fall, in which McGraw's club hung
nm world record for major league
baseball in taking twenty-six straight
games, in which each of the seven ri-
walls suffered reverses, has this old city
worked up to that pitch of enthusiasm
that prevailed through the champion
ship career of New York's Nationals
from 1911 TO 1918.
Noncombatants in Party
The interest is reflected in the num-
Der of noncombstlnts who will entrain
with McGraw's first squad at the Grand
Central Station at 1880 this morning.
More than score of fans viii make
the trip to Texas TO watch the develop
ment Of the club and to root 1T home
through the Joint tour with Hughle
Jennings's Tigers.
Occasionally there is a slip 'twlXt
cup and lip. McGraw admits 1t. lie
has had many managerial dlsappolnt-
ments. He thought his world cham
pionship club of 1905 real set-up for
the 1906 race. Those veterans of
twelve years ago all went dead on Mac
apparently overnight. while sickness
and injury raised havoc with the great
Mathewson and other youngsters VINO
were destined 70 star later on. II was
lust such another crumbling OF his
three-time champions that left Nc
Graw at the bottom of the heap at the
close of the 1915 race.
pointment 10 McGraw. He figured his
club one of the very best he had ever
commanded. The 1916 career of the
Giants is a psychological riddle that
defies solution. There was team that
won seventeen straight games at one
stretch and later took twenty-slT IN
row. and yet barely managed to finish
in the first division. In some respects
il was a repetition of the history of
1906. Certain veterans, among them
DOYLE and Merkle, went dead on the
Little Corporal.
Giants Stronger Than Rivals
Yet, unless ft.e has in store the res
direction of such gigantic foe as
Chance developed in the Cubs of 1906,
il is hard TO see how McGraw can be
foiled of his purpose this coming sea-
son. On the form the team displayed
after Herzog and Zimmerman were cor
rallied the New York National League
club appeared at least % per cent
stronger than any other first division
team.
McGraw starts for Marlin, Tex, Sc
renely confident and with the conf
dence Of the city behind him. He has
veteran cast for the inner and outer
lines and a galaxy OF youngsters TO
Lew McCarty a seasoned catcher OF
vOrth-a commodity that was sadly
lacking the first half OF the 1916 jour
neg. He has last years veteran pitch
ing staff intact and a lot Of highly COM
mended rockies from fast minor league
clubs, enough Of whom should be de-
veloped 20 keep the club going till the
veteran twirlers round to form. Fail
ure Of these old tossers 70 reach their
highest effectiveness before late July
cost New York last years pennant.
Besides the newspaper men and the
civilian contingent, beaded by DR..
Beers and ex-Captain Fitzgerald. Of the
Fire Department, dozen or more un-
attached players have requested per.
mission TO take a course in McGraw's
Marlin school.
Early Start for Benton
Pitcher Rube Benton. the southpaw.
came to town yesterday to make the
carly trip. Besides him, the players
Of McGraw's party leaving this city
will be:
George Sandberg, Sterling Stryker,
Pie Way, Waite Hoyt, Ferd Schupp,
George Smith, Lew McCarty, Bradley
Joe Wagner Fred Harscher Of the
Gas House League. is an unattached
candidate for schooling.
At st. Louis tomorrow afternoon the
following players will report, in COM
nand of big JEFF Tesreau:
Walter Holke. Bill Ritter. Jimmy
Middleton. William Morrissette, j. G
Josefson, Leo Witter. Joe Schepner and
William Bars, a free lance infelder
from Cincinnati
The following Giant recruits and
students Of the McGraw school will 20
direct from their homes 10 be in Marlin
not later than Sunday:
George Kelly, G. A. Causey, Ernest
Kreuger, Jim Thorpe. Ross Young,
Rodriguez, Peter KildUf, L. A. Jaynes,
Hans Lobert, A. W. Baird and Zeke
Lehman