, 1925-01-12
THE TRIBUNE'S PAGE OF SPORTING NEWS
Fifty Years
Of Baseball
by JOIN D. 7


The most successful manager in
the National league is John J.. Nc.
Graw. He may DO both spoken of
and written Of In the present tense
because he is still OF the
New York National league team
wh'"h he has conducted to 10 cham.
picnships.
His first victory was in 1904. He
won again in 1908. In le11-12-13 he
was successful, repeating in 1922,
1923 and 1924.
In 1904 there was no world series
because both McGraw, manager.
and Brush. wner OF the Giants, de.
clined to play the Boston Ameri.
cans. The players OF the team also
voted that they would prefer not TO
play this Boston Americans. In 1905
the Giants won from the Athletics.
In 1911 they lost 10 the Athletics
In the world series, and lost to Bos.
ton In 1912. In 1913 they lost TO the
Athletics again and in 1917 lost to
Chicago. In 1921 and 1929 they de.
teated the New York Americans and
In 1923 lost to them. In 1924 Their
riVa's were Washington and they
lost TO them. AS a world series
manager McGraw has had but ordl-
nary success.
In extolling the praises Of Nc.
Graw as manager OF a team. that
has mnde such a fine record In the
National league. the fact almost In
variably is overlooked that he made
one of the most brilliant campaigns
In his career when he was
for Baltimore in earlier. years. There
came q time when the Baltimore
club. chngrined at the poor patron.
age that was accorded at home and
fearing the city had lost its interest
In baseball, decided TO transfer most
OF its players to Brooklyn.
1t was also decided that Hanlon,
manager of the Baltimore team at
hat time. should go with the play.
ers to Brooklyn. and assume the
management OF the Brooklys. Nc.
Graw elected to remain in Baltimore
for eason known to himself and
when he cast his lot with the Balti.
mores he "a made manager, The
players who were left to him ma
tura'ly enough id not represent the
the best that Baltimore had and he
was compelled to do what he could
to pick up others who would be of
assistance to him. The team that
was left behind. when Hanlon de-
parted from the city OF Orioles and
went to Brooklyn. was not consld.
cred to be. much OF a prospect by
the critics of those days and they
were somewhat inclined to jeer 1t
and belittlo its chances before the
season began.
The budding ability OF McGraw
made itself manifest that year. He
took B Baltimore along at a fast gait
ad finished fourth and there was
part OF the season when he had the
Brooklyn team. and other teams Of
the National league which aspired
highly. completely at sea us to
where he might finish with his So
called castoffs.
1t has beer a wonderfully event.
full baseball life for McGraw. He
has had many successes. but all OF
his successes YER not much better
n the way of accomp 'ishment than
that season with Baltimore. when
unknown and laboring with all the
severe penalties that are imposed
'ipon a young manager, who is try
ing to make his way into major
league baseball. he took the under
rated Baltimores to fourth place In
the race.
He deserves as much for that one
good year as for any year In which
he ever won a p%ennant. He has no
immediate intention OF retiring and
win be at It again in 1925 trying for
another %pennant. His methods of
achieving success are so modern and
the results which he has won for
himself so recent. that comment is
unnecessary as to the demonstrate
ton OF his Intelligent effort.
No other manager In baseball ever
has done what he has. That seems
to be the most fitting praise TO be-
stow upon his career.
Next Adrian c. Anson)