The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-08


he made the investment not prim
profits but because owning the Gil;
boyhood ambition.
When he played right field for
the Woodwards and the Equitables
in Jersey City, Stoneham journeyed
to the Polo Grounds as often as
his work and his financial condition
would permit. Even in the some
what bedraggled, rarely successful
Giants of the COS Stoneham saw
sports Olympians to whose COM
paratively humble station he aspired
with the fervor of a moSlem pilgrim
struggling on the hot and barren
road to Mecca.
The years passed-Stoneham left
his diamond ambitions behind for
the embonpoint of soft living and
the easy dollars of Wall and Broad
SITS. BY 1919 he had a surplus of
$1,000,000, with which he purchased
the control of the New York club.
Il am buying this ball club for
my son." said Stoneham, referring
to the 15-year-old Horace c., then
playing on the Loyola school hockey
team. The father spoke better than
he knew At SO he is gone and to
his son pass the historic, glamorous
Giants, with their brilliant back
ground and, too, their uncertain
destinieS.
CTONEHAM owed his purchase of
~ IS per cent of the stock of the
Giants to the late John j. McGraw.
The manager of the New York club
his chagrin and self determination
in no uncertain phrases. In many
respects Stoneham and McGraW had
much in common. Not that Nc
Graw became embroiled in financial
and social uncertainties. But they
could become boisterous together,
and when that happened they called
each other names.
When, III 1919, Hampstead told
McCraW to find "a buyer for the
stock which had been bequeathed
to Harry and his wife and other in
terests by John T. Brush the man
ager of the Giants selected Harry
Sinclair, the oil man. Sinclair who
had had taste of professional base
ball in the Federal League was ready
to pay even more than the asked
price. But at the eleventh hour
McGraw and Sinclair had mis-
understanding. 1t had to do with
the oil magnate's entry into the rae
ing world with his Rancocas stable.
The National League did not want
the turf associated with any of its
clubs. Only four years before the
Yankees finally had rid themselves
OF the racing connection. Frank
Farrell along with Big Bill Devery,
had sold out to Col. Jacob Rupert
and Capt. Til Huston. The other
club owners in the National League
announced their determination TO
vote against a new owner of the
Giants who was not free of turf al
legiance. Then it was that Magis-
trate Francis x. McQuade brought
Stoneham into the picture, and Nc
Graw made the biggest mistake of
his life.
McGraw could have got the neces-
sary backing and bought the Giants
for himself. He could have achieved
his long-nursed ambition to become
president of the ball club and re-
tire to the offices overlooking the
field. But Mac made his costliest
tumble.
EOR Is years the Stoneham- Nc
Il Graw connection was a turbu-
lent one. On June 3, 1882, a notice
posted on the bulletin board in the
clubhouse at the Polo Grounds an
nounced the cessation of hostilities.
McGraW, the car of the Giants
since July, 1902, had abdicated.
McGraw said that he had retired
because OF Ill health, but few be-
heved him. Macs doctor had told
him that to continue on the bench
would shorten his life. McGraw
realized that to run the club from
MS home in Pelham would not be
$500 w CAtS bNQlAl anu W tIlS SlOrk-
holders. So he went to Stoneham
ana announced his determination to
resign.
Stoneham did not force McGraw
out. He urged Mac to reconsider
and then asked the retiring pilot to
name his successor. McGraw select
ed Bill Terry. Stoneham passed
the nomination to his son. Hor-
ace approved Terry and voted
against Freddy Lindstrom.
After McGraw had quit his health
seemed to improve. His idleness
became irksome. Terry's failure to
consult him in the various deals
angered the old pilot. 1t was then
that he said things which, in the
minds of many, strengthened the
belief that Stoneham had forced
McGraw out.