Evening journal., 1921-10-03
McGRAW Is BEST
KNOWN LEADER
In BASEBALL

Back In the foothills OF southern
Ohio. where they turn out men like
slim" sallee. the natives make an
annual pilgrimage to Cincinnati TO
see a baseball game.
Crops permitting. they always ar
range their schedule 70 get there
when the New York Giants are play
ing.
Not particularly because the
Giants are always up around the
top. but because they have a chance
to pour out a seasons accumulation
OF wrath on the portly shoulders OF
the Giant Chieftain. John McGraw.
After years OF effort. McGraw has
succeeded in killing the sobriquet
"Muggsy." In every city around the
circuit-but Cincinnati.
He is still known there as Mug
gsy." because the fans know he
doesn't like II.
II brings out one thing that has
made McGraw one OF the most
colorfui figures Of baseball. one
thing that has made his club the
biggest drawing road team in the
National League. The fans hold
nothing against McGraw. but he's a
famed fighter. and they like 20 see
him fight.
They like 20 see him storm out 10
the plate and berate the umpire.
They like to see him on the coach
ing line. shaking his fists az the
home players. They love 10 hear
him ride" his own. They don't act
as II they like him. but they always
turn out TO see him.
McGraw is the greatest manager
in the National League and, with
the possible exception OF Connie
Mack. the greatest leader the game
has ever known. In one respect
only must the New York leader bow
10 the slim. gaunt director OF the
Philadelphia Athletics. Mack has
won more worlds championships
than he. But Mack has had tall
ender for seven years. and In his
long career Of 10 years. McGraw
has been In the cellar only once.
McGraw has won seven pennants.
while Mack has only six to his
credit
In nineteen years. "Jawn j." as
he Is known in New York. has won
seven league championships. one
worlds championship. eight sec
onds. one third. two fourths and one
last in 1915.
Calling the names of>players who
starred under McGraw Is like recit-
ing a roster OF baseballs greatest
Afathewson, McGinnity. Taylor
Ames. Wiltse. Bresnahan. Bower
man. McGann. Deviin. Dahlen, Don
lin. Brouthers. Mccormick and. 81
more recent years. Burns. YounE
Frisch and Kelly have all bloome'
in their greatest under McGraw.
The Giant boss started playinl
professional ball in his home town
Truxton. n. y. in 1890. He playe,
with Olean and then went TO Wells
Vile. n. Y. He played his first bil
league game as a shortstop Will
the famous Baltimore Orioles OF
April %. 1891. Wilbert Robinson
now manager OF the Brooklyn Ma
tionais. was then catcher for th'
club.
McGraw went TO the Giants Jul,
19. 1909. when Andrew Freedman
owned the club and Horace Foge
was manager. The club finished
EIGHTH that season. McGnaw became
the manager in 1903. and placed
the club second in the race. III
won remnants in 1904 and 1905
when he beat Connie Mack in tn
worlds series. He won pennant
also in 1911. 1912. 1913 and 1917
and was deprived Of one in 1908
when Merkle pulled his histori'
homer. and the Cubs won the race
Several years ago. AcGraw, witl
Charles Stoneham. prominent broke
and horseman. bought the club an
McGraw is now vice-president. II
recent years Il has been reported
lannualiv that McGraw would re
tire. Last year I'm midsummer whel
he signed Johnny Evers as assistant
it was thought sure that he woull
llav down the reins in favor OF IN
former Cub. and last winter, whei
he signed Hughey Jennings, his oil
team-mate OF the Oriole days, IN
convictlon was strengthened.
While McGraw did not give ui
the management OF the team thi
year. he went into a semi-retiremen'
remaining on the bench all seaso
, and allowing Jennings and Cos
Doian to do the field work. Pol
Ground fans have never liked tn
absence OF the portiy, gray-thatche
leader from the coaching lines.
McGraw Is known as a fearles
= trader and a buyer without pric
? limit. He gave first indications {
this when he paid $1,000 for Rub
Marquard years ago. Last winter n
Q offered $500 900 to the Cincinna
a Reds for sddie Roush or Heine Grol
and he Is reported to have offere
y the st. Louis Cardinals on eve
$ greater sum for Rogers Hornsb.
4 He never looks 20 the future. II
always works for the present an
4 will dispose OF the most promisin
!. players to hll an immediate hole
4 In private lie. McGraw Is alwas
more or less in the spotlight throug
his pugnacious tendencies. II
only at certain times, however, thi
such impulses get the best OF him
with all the faults that he ma
be accused OF possessing. McGra
: has never turned down friend. II
released Pat Moran TO go 10 n
Cincinnati Reds and beat him out
a pennant. He took Johnny Evei
on when he was out Of work, an