Evening star., 1962-09-21
SEGH AT LARGE
Terry McGrow
Two of q Kind
by MORRIS SIEcEL

LIFE WITH THE OLD New York Giants under John
McCraw must have been ball There whisky drink
ing damechasng carousng and the other fringe benefits
that make baseball national pastime
There also stiff fines, rebukes seedlings taings
by posse of private detectives curfews bed checks
enough other distractions to make a wish Abner
Doubleday had stuck to his business Of being Yankee
Army officer and never invented the game.
Bill Terry lived through the He didn't like the way
the autocratc McGraw the show, but he certainly
respected -under duress naturally Terry respected it
much that when the Old Man finally surrendered the
to him. Bill tried to run it Just like McGraw the
legendary Polo Grounder.
You fellows who didn't play under McGraw missed
part Of living he told three young Senators and house
full of diners at the Alexandria Grandstand Managers
Club last night "Theren be another McGraw."
TERRY OUGHT TO KNOW about this He tried to be-
Somewhere along the way, however, Bill failed McGraw
lasted almost 80 years field manager Of the Giants
Terry's tenure cut short the normal way all
geral cut shortly frng-after a 10-year
hitch.
In an Of baseball there a stranger more
complex relationship than McGraw and Terry. Under
meath that of mutual dislike and distrust the two
curmudgeons doubteSsy had special kind Of fondness
for one another
How else can one account for the fact that McCraw
who hadn't spoken Terry for almost two seasons finally
broke the silence in the most unpredctable way magna
BILE? He called Terry into his office and asked him if he
wanted the job of manager.
You don't have to tell now, think it for a
couple Of days" McGraw, the tough little tyrant told
Terry, the tough big tyrant
Think it nothing, I'll take it now" shot back
Terry, who still knows good thing when he sees it.
TT DIDN'T TAKE BILL long to let that 1892 Giants
team know who boss Ten minutes after he got the
job he fired the trainer He stool pigeon Terry said
Terry only half agrees with the borrowed philosophy
Of Teddy Roosevelt who suggested should talk softly
and big stick Terry did pack big stick that
padded major league pitching for 34l lifetime average.
1t included 4Ol 1880 the last National Lacquer to
better 400
But talk softly? Not Terry Not when he played and
managed and not today when he has become self
appointed critic of the game McGraw him
self quickly learned his sugging Dixie first baseman
was yesman He fined Terry $50 for violating curew
by only two minutes
When the travelling secretary told Terry of the fine
Bill told him to tell McGraw If he makes it $O0 I'll
go home" McGraw, who didn't also returned the $50
sessment
TERRY, WHOSE SON knocked off Bill Hyndman in
the first round of the National Amateur the other day.
has been living in Jacksonville Fa years He
large and successful agencySo successful
once turned down $5O0O job to manage the Dodgers for
Walter oMaley who had lost Leo Durocher to Terrys
ALMA mater the Giants
%I told oMsey would take the job but not for $685.
000 Terry recalled II explained to him that with my tax
situation it had to be $l25OOO couldn't for less He
told it $65 OOO it Charlie Dresser will
get the job Charlie got it,"
GAnother time several years ago. Warren Giles then
president of the Reds also wanted Terry manage Said
he'd pay him 5000, all the Reds could afford.
only $2500O?" Terry asked "I make that much every
month in the automobile business"
. Giles had answer to that problem IF that's the
case he told Terry, why don't you up here and
manage just for fun"
.,ToDAY'S BASEBALL GRIEvEs Terry. It's not the
game, he contends, just like many old-timers who
refuse to admit anything air conditioning, good
as the old electric fan days.
Il don't see many games today" he said, "but know
just from the box you're not seeing good baseball
today can tell by the time it takes to play the number
Of pitchers used the platoon system and the rest Only
the rules haven't changed"
Terry came here in the morning and played golf at
Belle Haven before his appearance last night His host
Chuck Stephenson phoned him in Jacksonville and asked
he played golf rghte lete Terry lefthanded
fielder and hitter.
Don't worry about clubs for me-" Terry said I'm
bringing my own. I'm coming up there 10 win"