The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-02-26

w SSt0bAAoA tAAC H0AIiC 40 LIAC
Messages OF coincidence from
all sections poured into the big red
brick home in Pelham Manor
where his widow. Mrs Blanche Sim
dali McGraw, was near collapse.
Notables Of sports, business and
the stage brayed@a winter blizzard
to pay their last respects to the
Little Napoleon"--to murmur q
few prayers in the McGraw living
room beside the huge mahogany
casket in which the great man lay.
The peppery little vice-president
of the New York Giants, whose dy-
manic personality astute field gen.
and sweeping conquests during
nearly 80 years as manager of the
Giants, won him the sobriquet
Little Napoleon" died at 1850 a.
m. yesterday. He was almost 81
years old.
Intestinal hemorrhage was the
immediate cause of death. This re-
suited from uremia carcinoma of the
prostate and metastasis, from
which he had been suffering sew
eral weeks.
Funeral Plans
The casket will remain in the
Pelham Manor home today and to-
morrow. On Wednesday funeral
services will be held in st Patrick's
cathedral, New York city. The Rev
Vincent De Paul Mulrey, pastor of
st GATHERINGS Roman Catholic
church of Pelham will officiate at
the solemn high requiem mass at
10 q. m.
After the funeral services, the
man who directed the Giants to 10
National League pennants and
three world championships and all
time record, will be taken to Bal
timore, where as youth he Joined
the belligerent old Baltimore ORR
oles in 1891. The casket will be
placed in vault in Bonnie Brae
cemetery, outside the cathedral, for
burial later.
manager of the Giants on June 8,
1892, because of i'll health, his az
fiction then was not one Of the
causes of his death. He was both
cred in 1882, by a troublesome sim
US condition. He gave up the man.
agership to Bill Terry but contin-
ued as active vice-president and
advisor of the club.
Mrs McGraw was at the bedside
in New Rochelle hospital when
death came. She was holding his
hand. Also in the large hospital
room were a group OF intimate
friends, two priests and three phys
icians.
Friends present were Charles A.
Stonehan, president of the Giants;
Mrs Stephen Van Lii, sister of Mrs
McGraw; Frank Belcher, actor and
lifelong friend, and Mrs Belcher;
Mrs Peter Creger, sister-in-law Of
the late Christy Mathewson, and
Mrs John O'Brien, o. family friend.
The physicians were DR. Louis b.
Chapman, family physician, and
two New York specialists, DR. z.
Z. Reyes, and DR. e. L. Kellogg.
Father Mulrey, who had admin
istered last rites a week ago, led
the group in prayer in the hospital
corridor just before McGraw died.
outside the window of the man
who usually spent his winter in
sunny Havana, Snow fakes werc
drifting down, forerunners Of one
Of winters worst blizzards.
Real Man OF Baseball
With McGraw at the helm, the
CLANS won 10 National league
pennants and three world series.
Only thrice after he took charge Of
the team in 1902, did the Giants
finish in second division. His career
reached it's peak during the years
1917-1925, during which time his
Giants won Ave National pennants.
finished second four times, and
fought their way to the world
championship twice.
McGraw was a fighter clean
through from the day he Joined
the old Baltimore Orioles until he
retired as manager of the Giants
During his 40 odd years Of base
ball, he fought players, fans, man
ayers, umpires, league heads, and
in later years, officials Of his own
club.
His combativeness gained him
the hated nickname '.Muggsy'
when, as q 12O-pounder he joined
the Orioles. Some of the burly vet
Grams referred to him as "bat boy"
and showed him off the bench. He
Graw leaped up and tore into the
benchful OF huskie, his fists fail
ing wildly and indiscriminately.
After that the bantam was treated
with respects.
But McGraw could be as kindly
as % mother in lifting a player out
of depression when the player had
done his best but blundered. For
example in 1908, Fred Merkle lost
the pennant for the/Gianss in their
play-off with the Cubs. He failed
TO touch second base. McGraw con
doned the fatal oversight and ac-
tually raised his salary to encour-
age him. Merkle repaid his boss by
playing stellar baseball for years.
New York State Native
McGraw, who would have been
81. on April 2, began his baseball
career in his home town at "Trux-
ton, N. r., in 1890, at the age of
II. He shifted to the IfSan club, OF
the New York Pennsylvania league.
Then to Cedar Rapids of the Him
ois-Iowa league. His next stop waa
Baltimore. When Baltimore was
dropped from the National League
in 1899, McGraw went to st Louis,
leaving that club at the end of the
season. He then was aided by Ban
b. johnson In organizing the Bal
timore American league club. He
remained with Baltimore until ear
~. 1902, when he signed with the
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