The Washington times., 1934-03-06
LIFE OF JOHN M'GRAW
McCraw Pays $1,000
for Marquard in
Biggest Deal
(This is of series Of articles in the life and
John McGraw.)
BY STAN LOMAX

What q brilliant and thrilling
panorama unfolded as McGraV
rebuilt his team after that heart
breaking playoff incident with
the Cubs!
The process took time, but ir
1911 it was once again a con
quering machine which McGraV
had welded into being. Fol
three years in a row the Giants
ruled the National League with
an iron hand.
McGraw was the Giants an6
the Giants were McGraw. What
struggles took place on the tur1
Of the Polo Grounds-now growr
from rambling wooden stands tc
towers and terraces Of solid stee
and cement, completely surround
ing the playing space. Pitching
duelS, ninth inning rallies, pinch
hitterS rushing in to help save
games, VenomouS arguments with
umpires, defeat sometimes, vic
tory more often-that was the
life Of McGraw.
It was during the rebuilding
Of the Giants that McGraw
shocked the baseball world-anc
the world Of finance, toby pay
ing $1,000 for one ball player
Rube Marquard, a tall, wry necked
left handler who had been a sensa
tion in Indianapolis, was the
athlete.
The expenditure Of this tire
mendous sum and the attendant
publicity made the Giants even g
greater gate attraction that evel
before. Fans flocked from fal
and wide to see this $11,O0C
pitcher, and, although McGraV
never admitted it, Marquard more
than earned his purchase price
the first season in increased at
tendance.
Won 10 Straight
'The Rube," as Marquard wa.
known, didn't click at once anc
the fans engaged in the popular
pastime Of knocking a hero from
his pedestal. THE ZOO Lemon
was tagged on the unfortunate
Marquard, although once Wilbert
Robinson really took the big LEFT
handler under his wing he became
the greatest Southpaw Of his time
He won 10 straight games, pitch
ing record which still stands.
AS McGraw went on, building
great baseball teams with which X
sweep through the league for II
pennants and three worlds cham
pionShips, he was at the same
time applying his ideas to the
game in general. At the turn o1
the century, when the Orioles
were rulers of the baseball world
the estate of player was moi
exactly lofty one.
But as McGraw developed hiS
Giants he insisted that his mer
be lodged in the finest Of hotels
No longer was the ball player
looked upon as a rough, uncoutt
type associated with turtle-necA
sweaters, burlesque shows anc
waterfront hotels.
In lifting the living conditions
Of the game. higher class Of
young man became attracted tt
the game, until today baseball en-.
joys as fine a rating in the bust.
ness world as any other profes-
sion. And baseball owes this hap.
py situation to the foresight Of the
Truxton boy who once insisted
that a hack be provided for him
in which to ride from his home tc
pitch a game in a neighbor1ng VII
lage.
Toured World in '1S
In 1918, following the close oi
the world series. McGraw led his
Giants and the Chicago White
Sox in a tour around the world
Although he realized baseball had
little chance Of being adopted In
any land other than Japan. Nc
graw enjoyed the trip. meeting
and playing before many OF the
crowned heads of Europe.
The year Of 1919 was another
significant one for McGraw, now
gray Of hair and no longer the
spry, slim game-cock Of Oriole
days. He had been through the
mill, no longer did his temper
burn with the same fire that sent
him into pitched battles on the
field with Addie Brennan in Phila-
delphia, Dan McGann in Boston
Umpire Byron in Boston anc
others.
For in 1919 McGraw assumed
part ownership Of the Giants. I: