The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-19
White Sox Show Speed In A. L.
McGrow Finest Leod-Off Man,
Hardest Hitting Third Socker
And MotchIess As Run-Getter
BY HARRY GRAYSON
Ma Sports Editor

John j. McGraw went down in
history as Little Napoleon, the fiery
manager of the Giants. Connie
Mack considers McGraw the great
est leader since 1900.
McGraw's ability as player
was lost sight of in his 80 years
of almost unbroken success as the
iron-fisted strategist of the Polo
Grounders.
Little Mac, a left-hand batter
standing no more than five feet
seven and weighing only 1855
pounds, was the ideal lead-off
man. He was the hardest hitting
third baseman CT all time with a
15-year major league average of
1854. Swift and smart on the
bases, he scored more runs in
proportion to the number of
games played than any other
player before or since.
McGraw was paid $4,000 for a
single seasons play more than so
years ago.
Despite his size or lack of it,
McGraw in his early days - he
signed his first professional con-
tract at 17-fancied himself as a
pitcher.
Cap Arson recognized his geni-
us as a third baseman and at the
plate when he was kid of Is
The Cedar Rapids club with
which he was performing met the
celebrated Chicago White Stock
ings in a spring exhibition game
in 1891. Arson offered to buy
the peppery kids contract then
and there.
KNEW WAY AROUND BASES
McGraw was with Baltimore
when Ned Hanlon arrived in '92
to build the immortal Orioles
who put inside baseball into the
game and turned out more IA
nous figures than any ether club
on record.
McGraw had such artful bat
tiers as Wee Willie Keeler, Joe
Kelley, Hughie Jennings and
Jack Doyle to hit him around as
the Baltimore Birds swept to pen
nants in '94-95-96 and narrowly
missed in 81. and SO. He didn't
steal first base, however, and
there never was a ousier base
runner.
At time when 800 hitters
were rare, McGraw cracked the
circle in eight campaigns. He
batted $40 in 'e4. .374 in '95, 1874
in '98, $3.50 in '99, 1897 in 1900 and
1852 in 'O1.
McGraw swiped 40 bases in '93 II
in '94. 60 in '95, AZ in 81 and '9S 70
in go
There was a difference of only
288 between the number OF hits
McGraw made in 1890 games -
13O6-and the number of runs he
scored-1018, which is proof of the
superior baserunner. He knew his
way around.
Little Mac wasn't afraid Of the
devil and 200-pound guardians
of sacks protected themselves at
all times when he came charging
their way.
MAC CALLED EVERY PITCH
The record shows that McGraW
he'd fight you If you called him
Muggsy was as efficient as a
manager as he was as player.
He would fight at the drop of the
hat right up until he retired as
field marshal. He never got off
the umpires.
McGraw called every pitch for
every club he managed, prefer
red curve ball pitchers.
McGraw was man about
Broadway and grand mixer
with countless friends and ad-
mirers, yet he was stickler for
discipline. He had reputation
as a hard guy, but had a heart
as big as bucket. He staked
more old ball players than any
other man. When the Florida
bubble burst, he gave nearly all
of his income for six years to
friends who lost heavily In pro-
motion scheme to which he had
lent his name.
John McGraw participated in
his last game as player with the
Giants, Sept. u, 1906, batting for
Iron Man Joe McGinnity in the
ninth inning. He drew base on
balls, contributed to a four-run
and winning rally.
Little Mac of the old Orioles
was good to the last step.
NEWT. Candy Cummings threw