Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-29
Turns In Another
Flag and Is More Secure
IL His Title of ssNapOleon',

another p%ennant to the strin sad dhaE{
has f1uttered from the flag po,e 81
the Polo Grounds, John Joseph Nc
Graw becomes more securely an.
sconsed in his title Of Napoleon Of
Baseball"
Short, stocky,. daipper, ruddy faced
and gray headed, McGraw looks more
like a successful broker than a pro-
what the clothing adds elias.
sify as smart" and If ever some
twist shears him of success and rea-
son he can get q Job posing for an Oil
painting Of a cigarette smoker or tho
latest in collars.
His career is remarkable, but not
surprising. 1t was sane, steady
march to the heights Of his profess
sion. intercepted now and then b.
some flight Of Temperament or OF
temper, but it has all been in one di-
rection. He is in the logical place for
such q logical man to occupy.
I, just Turning Fifty.
McGraw was born in 1873, and SO
is Just about turning the SO mark.
He began playing baseball as most
American boys do as 500 as he could
toddle after one. His professional
debut was made when he discarded
short trousers, but whether he did
one of those two things to effect the
other is a question which his bio
graphers must debate.
The present manager Of the
Champion Giants has been in the
game professionally for 80 years,
starting with the Oleon team of the
New York State League in 1890 when
his reputation asa consistent hitter
and reliable fielder spread from his
native heath of Truxton N. 7.
Throughout his playing days he was
one of the marvels Of the diamond
but his gray matter has made him a
fixture.
l. Gets Sixty a Month.
Only one year did McGraw remain
In Oleon, signing a sheet for $50 a
month. Next he went TO Cedar Rap
ids. where his stipend was more re-
munerative and his work more brill
liant. His shortstopping was 50 re-
markable that a big league scout
came to look him over, saw him and
was captivated.
The youthful "Mugsy'' went, to
Baltimore, then the tail-ender in q
12-club circuit. It was in August,
1891, that McGraw broke into fast
company. little more than a year af-
ter his entry in the professional
ranks. His first season he warmed
the bench, but in 1892 Ned Hanlon,
the Orioles new manager, tried out
Joseph at second base and then shift
ed him to third, where he gained a
reputation. Third base was his po-
sition. 8
Always a Peer.
McGraw has always been recognize
ed as the peer Of any who preceded
or followed him at the hot corner,g
his particular forte being the fielding
of bunts. He was a y~ear-fn-and-
year out $50 hitter and fast O the
paths. His individual playing wax
one Of the factors in the ucces OF
the old Orioles. l
With Wilbert Robinson, formerly
Of the Giants, and now manager Of
the Brooklyn team, McGraw was sold
to the st. Louis club in 1900 for $751;
900. Both players were ill-placed
ed it's head in 1900 the Giants PRES
ent mentor aligned himself with Ban
B. Johnson. '.'e 3
Back to Baltimore. K
He went back to Baltin1orerand
organized a team that was oneo IT
the most popular in tffe Atstufy of
the game. Butsin 1902 McGraw and
johnson came Io the partingsof the
ways and in mid-season the Balti-
Imore team was so 'disorganized that
Mugs" Etook> off hts, spiked shoes
and announced that they were on the
shelf forever.
At that time the ate Andrew
Freedman was sorrowed by the spec
tacle Of the s~low-going Giants, the
team he owned. McGraw was recon
mended to him and was hired, taxi
ing the helm in July and remaining
in charge since. \
The game has grown big--has had
virtually all OF its growth and grows
ing pain-in McGraw's professional
time. When he came to New York
the old Polo Grounds seated $4,000,
now. it is $4,000 and a third tier I'd
the g~randstand is to be added next
year. McGraw's life is Insured BY
the club for 100000 and he owns q
fair share Of operating company'a
stock.
Brussels has q church clock wound
by atmospheric expansion induced BY
the heat of the sun. Z