New-York tribune., 1921-09-19
McCraw Rallies
Willing Spirit
Of His Players
Clubhouse Sermon Respon-
sible for One of Greatest
Rallies In Modern Game
BY r. ]. Kelly

the end Oh the season rapidly approach
ing, John J. McGraw, leader of the fly
ing Giants, has almost brought
miracle Of baseball to it's consumma-
tion and is about to establish record
for managerial success.
Unless the most unexpected comes to
pass, he will pilot the New York Club
to the league championship for the
seventh time during his long career, and
he will then be the only manager in
the history of the game to accomplish
such feat. Previous to the present
season, McGraw and Connie Mack, Of
the Philadelphia Athletics, had each
been the leader of six pennant winning
teams.
The present sensational squirt of the
GIANTS, during which they have swept
aside all opposition, has been one of
McGraw's most noteworthy feats of
leadership. A little more than three
weeks ago, even the most ardent fol-
lowers Of the New York team were
willing to concede that it's chances of
capturing the pennant were practically
hopeless. The Giants were then falter-
games behind the Pirates, who had
been setting dizzy pace since the
very opening of the present campaign.
Now, however, they are leading the
league by a margin of four and
half games over the Pittsburgh outfit
and they are virtually certain of land
ing the coveted flag.
McGraw Rallies Faltering Morale
The astounding Transformation in
the work of the Giants has been
brought about by the coordination of
their every effort. Previous to their
in New York their morale and team
play were badly shattered. Just after
they had received an overwhelming set
back at the hands of the slugging
Cardinals in the final game of the
series, McGraw called a meeting of his
players in their clubhouse at the Polo
Grounds He told them in very plain
language what he thought of their
playing and he pointed out their in
dividual and collective faults.
On the following day they took a new
lease of life and decisively trounced the
Pirates in both games Of double
header. Since then they have won
twenty out of twenty-four contests, and
they now have an unbroken string of
ten victories to their credit. Their
pitching and batting and fielding dur
ing the last three weeks has been of
the highest order.
Since August "a the Giants have won
seven games from the Pirates, three
from the Cubs, two from the Phillies,
from the Dodgers and one out Of four
from the Braves. If the New Workers
are victorious in only five of their re-
naming ten contests the Pittsburgh
players will have to win twelve of their
thirteen games to finish the season at
the head of the pack. The Pirates
have five more games to play with st.
Louis, and there is now possibility,
slight though it may be, that the Car
dinals will wind up their campaign in
second place.
Pitching Form Reversal Remarkable
The remarkable reversal Of form of
McGraw's pitching staff has played a,
very prominent part in the latest sue
cess of the Giants. At the present time
Artie Nehf, Phil Douglas and Fred
Toney are all at the top of their form.
and these three will bear the main
twirling burden during the remainder
Of the season and in the worlds series
to follow.
The pitchers have been helped to
very considerable extent by alright
support, both by the infelders and the
outfelders. In addition, the batting of
the Giants has been timely and con-
sistent.
Artie Nehf, who defeated the Pirates
yesterday, is now the only pitcher in
either league who has scored seven
victories against one club this season.
Frank Frisch, whose batting has been
one of the features of the Western trip
thus far is now leading his mates in
that department with the splendid aver
age Of 1886.
All the members of the Giants are
now roofing hard for the Yankees to
capture the American League pennant
McGraw's players are delighted at the
prospect Of an all-New York worlds
series and they are all extremely con-
Huggins's outfit for the championship
of the universe.
Immediately after yesterdays game
McGraw returned to his room at the
hotel where the Giants are staying and
telephoned the news of the teams i'm
portant victory to Christy Mathewson,
who is recovering from an attack of
tuberculosis at Saranac, N. Y. The
former idol Of the New York fans de-
clared that he is now we'll on his way
back to health and has hopes of seeing
the Giants meet their American League
opponents in the worlds series.