New Britain herald., 1928-03-09
(BY BILLY EVANs)

You just can't keep John McGraw out of the headlines of the sports pages.
 Whether you are an ardent sup porter of John McGraw or a con- firmed enemy of his methods, there ; is no denying that he has the cOur- age of his convictions.
 To my way of thinking, John Me Graw is outstanding in baseball. first as a player, then as manager. do not always 'agree with his policies. I often question his judg- meht on certain things. but after all is said and done, the leader of the Giants is unique and original in his methods. He gets results and that is what counts.
 Whether you agree with McGraw or not. you must have the greatest admiration for one who is willing to make trades which, on the surface. seem poor deals, yet often work to his advantage. If ever man had the courage of his convictions, Me- Graw is such a person.
 Since the first of the year, the New York club has made two deals which have startled the baseball world. The first was the trading of Rogers Hornsby. greatest of present. day second basemen, to Boston. for Catcher Hogan and Outfielder Welsh of Boston.
 A cold analysis of the deal makes it seem that New York got all the worst of the transaction. Hogan is a catcher of great promise and Welsh is good outfielder. but by no line of reasoning can the trade be considered even-up.
 Yet, knowing John McGraw as I do. I am positive he has one or more definite reasons for making such a deal. Possibly they never will be revealed but I would be will ing to wager my last cent that if McGraw cared to talk he might offer some fairly logical reasons for his actions.
 As everyone knows. for six years John McGraw has openly said he would like nothing better than to add Rogers Hornsby to the Giants. Several years ago he made an offer of $250.000 in real money. It was turned down. Then two years ago , an incident developed in the ranks of the Giants that made 1t possible for McGraw to realize his desire of many years, obtaining Hornsby. During an important series at St. Louis in the 1926 pennant race, John McGraw took to task the star of his team, Frankie Frisch. for poor play. Frisch resented the criticism and took the first train for home after the argument. Mo- Graw regarded this as an unpardon- able sin. He formed the opinion that Frisch had quit him in the pinch. McGraw then traded him to St. Louis for Hornsby.
 ! Now. after one year with the Giants, McGraw has sent away the man he sought for years to Boston in what appears to be very uneven trade. However. you can gamble there Is reason, maybe several. Since regard Hornsby as a marvel, I can't agree with McGraw's judg- ment in this particular deal. But that is neither here nor there. Shortly after this surprising deal, McGraw followed it with another al- most as startling. He traded Bur- leigh Grimes. the winner of 1s games for the Giants last season. even up. for Vic Aldridge of Pitts. burgh. who could win only IS games { for the pennant winning Pirates As he had Hornsby. McGraw for years had sought Crimes Getting both stars the same season, he cuts loose from them after one campaign
 Once again. would say McGraw
 has his reasons for this trade if he cared to divulge them. McGraw
 doesn't like spitball pitchers as a
 rule. He is strong for the curve ball artists. Grimes is splitter
 Aldridge a curver.
 It isn't the first time McGraw ha,
 pulled the unusual. He once traded
 Heine Groh. only to later take him
 back. His record is full of the un.
 usual and yet his career has been
 highly successful.
 It would perhaps be best to wait
 until the close of the season to pas
 final judgment on McCraw's two
 sensational deals of 1928.