John McGraw: The Early Years

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John McGraw: The Early Years

”Remember this son: One percent of ballplayers are leaders of men. The other 99 percent are followers of women.” –John McGraw

“In playing or managing, the game of baseball is only fun for me if I’m out in front and winning. I don’t give a hill of beans for the rest of the game.” – John McGraw

One of our readers recently asked for some information on John McGraw, so I’m happy to oblige. We’re all aware that John McGraw was one of the greatest managers or all-time, but his highly successful career as a player often gets overlooked.

Just to review, here’s some of his managerial statistics, which place him in the Top-Ten in virtually all categories: Over 33 years (3^rd all-time) as a manager, he compiled a 2763 (2^nd all-time) – 1948 record (.586 winning percent, 8^th all-time), with 10 pennants (1904, ’05, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’17, ’21, ’22, ’23, ’24, tied for first all-time), and 3 World Series championships ( 1905, ’21, ’22, tied for 7^th all-time).He also had 11 second places finishes and only two seasons with a losing record.  McGraw is the only National League manager to win four consecutive pennants (1921, ’22, ’23, ’24). He held the major league record for most ejections by a manager (132) until Bobby Cox topped it in 2007.

And now, a little bit about John McGraw’s overlooked playing career:

John McGraw played 17 years in the major leagues. Over his career, he hit .334 in 1100 games, with 1024 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .466 (third all-time behind only baseball Ted Williams at .482 and Babe Ruth at.474), and 436 stolen bases.

He made his debut in 1891 in the American Association with the Baltimore Orioles. After the team moved to the National League, he remained with them until1899. The acclaimed Baltimore Orioles of Ned Hanlon and John McGraw are recognized as one of the greatest teams of all-time, with pennants in 1894, ’95, and ’96. During this time, McGraw became known as a fine batter with a keen eye, striking out only155 times in 4910 plate appearances. He also developed into an excellent defensive third baseman.

McGraw walked over 100 times in a season three times, scored over 100 runs in a season five times, batted .320 or higher in every year from 1893 on, and posted an on-base percentage of .400 or higher in every year from 1893 on, including an unheard-of career high mark of .547 in 1899.

The Baltimore Orioles’ play, of which McGraw was the prototype, included a mix of the ethical innovations, like the hit and run, with tactics considered more dubious, such as excessive arguing with the umpire, to try to intimidate. This became a McGraw specialty, which he carried over into his managerial days.

His highly successful style of play was termed variously as aggressive, no-holds-barred, and always seeking an advantage.  It can be summed up in this quote:  “He was notorious for tripping, blocking and impeding a base runner in any way he could while the umpire was distracted by the flight of the ball. His profligacy in employing such tactics may have led to additional umpires being assigned to monitor the basepaths.”

John McGraw was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937.

Photo Credits: All found on Google search

Information: Excerpts and quotes edited from the John McGraw Wikipedia page.

Statistics: From the John McGraw Baseball-Reference.com page

-Gary Livacari

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