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  John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson Photo Gallery

In the long history of baseball, their have been many notable feuds. Ones that come readily to mind involve Johnny Evers and Joe Tinker; Yogi Berra and George Steinbrenner; and Leo Durocher and Carl Furillo, to name only a few. Today, in Ron Christensen’s essay, we learn of another friendship involving baseball icons that eventually went sour: John McGraw and Wilbert “Uncle Robbie” Robinson, seen together in the featured photo as teammates on the old Baltimore Orioles. Fortunately, like the first two feuds mentioned above, they eventually had a happy reconciliation…and the baseball world was the much better for it! I think you’ll enjoy what Ron has for us today. -GL

Wilbert Robinson & John McGraw:

A Complicated Relationship!

In playing or managing, the game of baseball is only fun for me when I’m out in front and winning.” -John McGraw

They say opposites attract.  Maybe in scripted versions romanticized by Hollywood, i.e., ‘Beauty & The Beast’, ‘Pretty Woman’, even ‘Harold & Maude’.  But in baseball?  Well, don’t discount it too quickly.  Think Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner.  Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver.  Toody and Muldoon (oops, Hollywood again).  Wilbert Robinson and John McGraw.

Robinson and McGraw.  Sounds like a name on a law firm shingle.  But to fans of baseball history, those names are legendary, iconic, immortal.  Over careers spanning more than four decades the two forged a complicated friendship that was both unbreakable and broken, stable and volatile.

They met as Baltimore Orioles in 1891 – Robinson the catcher and natural team leader directing the on-field action, and McGraw the feisty infielder.  Both men stood about 5’8”, and that’s where the similarities ended.  At  225 pounds, Robinson was at least five trouser sizes larger than McGraw, who tipped the scales at 150 in full uniform with bat, ball and glove in hand. 

The two were good friends in Baltimore.  But peas in a pod?  Hardly.  Robinson bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus with his rotund shape and jolly demeanor.  He got along with everyone, serving as peacemaker when tensions flared on the field.  With folksy good humor, homespun wit and jovial manner, Robinson was one of the most beloved figures in baseball history, so well liked he was affectionately known as “Uncle Robbie.”  His ‘Falstaffian’ personality did more to mold the character of the Brooklyn Dodgers than any other influence or attribute. 

By contrast, McGraw prioritized strategy and guile and sought every advantage to win.  He often employed on-field chicanery, such as slapping the ball away from an infielder while running the bases, or tripping a base runner while playing the infield.  As a third baseman, McGraw was known to hook his finger under the belt of a runner as he started for home on a sacrifice fly.  In one such attempt Pete Browning unbuckled his belt when McGraw hooked it, and Browning scurried home holding up his pants, leaving McGraw at third with Browning’s belt in his hand. 

McGraw also menaced and berated umpires, opposing players and even his own players when he felt they didn’t perform to his standards.  His Machiavellian demeanor earned him the nickname ‘Little Napolean.’  Giants coach Artie Latham once said “McGraw eats gunpowder every morning for breakfast and washes it down with warm blood!”  McGraw was tossed from games 131 times, a record that would stand almost eighty years.  Robinson was ejected only once in his career, ironically for defending McGraw who had intentionally bumped a runner rounding third.

Despite their differences, the two remained close friends. They went into business together, opening an upscale sports-bar appropriately named the ‘Diamond’ a few blocks from Union Park where the Orioles played their games.  And they bought adjoining homes on St. Paul Street, also not far from Union Park. 

But in the middle of the 1902 season, McGraw abruptly left the Orioles to become player-manager of the New York Giants.  Robbie remained in Baltimore as player-manager of the Orioles.  McGraw transferred his interest in the Diamond to Robinson, who ran it after retiring as a player at the end of the 1902 season. 

In 1909 McGraw invited Robbie to spring training to work with his pitchers, which Robbie did until 1911 when McGraw hired him full time, a move that paid off as Robinson was instrumental in helping the Giants win National League pennants in 1911, 1912 and 1913. 

But their friendship wore thin in New York, with McGraw often critical of Robbie during the 1913 season.  This came to a head at a reunion of old Orioles teammates after the Giants lost the final game of the World Series.  McGraw, who was drunk, was overly critical of Robinson’s handling of his pitchers.  Robinson responded with criticism of McGraw’s managing.  It ended with McGraw ordering Robbie out of the reunion hall, and Robinson leaving after showering McGraw with his beer.  Thus began a seventeen year void where the two once famous friends refused to speak to each other.

In 1914 Charles Ebbets hired Robbie to manage Brooklyn, soon to be known as the Robins in honor of Robbie’s warm reception there.  Robbie won his first pennant with Brooklyn in 1916.  The Robins clinched the pennant in the season’s final game, a hard fought 7-5 victory over McGraw’s Giants.  To McGraw the game wasn’t hard-fought at all.  It was a gift, one that his players handed to their beloved Robbie to help him win his first pennant.  He said his team’s performance was disgusting and he didn’t want to be connected with it.  He was so angered he left the field in the fifth inning and refused to return.  Robbie’s response?  “Ridiculous!” he said. 

Their feud would come to an abrupt end at the baseball winter meetings in December, 1930.  Quite unexpectedly the two embraced when they met, exchanging pleasantries and well-wishes that melted away seventeen years of acrimony as if it never occurred.  These two giants of baseball who helped shape the modern game were friends once more. 

Robinson would retire at the end of the 1931 season.  McGraw would soon follow, citing health reasons, in June of 1932. 

John McGraw passed away from cancer in February, 1934.  Robbie was said to be deeply shaken by the news, acknowledging the greatness of his friend and teammate.  Six months later Robbie fell, striking his head and breaking his arm.  While being treated he said “Don’t worry fella’s.  I’m an old Oriole.  I’m too tough to die!”  He would slip into a coma and pass away days later from a brain hemorrhage.

Robinson and McGraw are buried not far from each other at New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore, the city where they met, forged a friendship and began their journey to baseball immortality. 

In the words of Casey Stengel:

Of Wilbert Robinson:  “He was the finest man I ever knew in baseball and I felt his loss almost as if he had been a close relative.  I served under Uncle Robbie for seven years.  He not only taught me how to play the outfield but he taught me how to live.  Baseball was its pleasantest with Robbie around.” 

Of John McGraw:  “McGraw men were brought up to hustle.  He kept you liking the game.  If he couldn’t, he’d get rid of you so quick you wouldn’t have time to notify the post office of your change of address.” 

Ron Christensen

REFERENCES:

1. The Baseball Hall of Fame: Wilbert Robinson, Class of 1945
2. Wikipedia: Wilbert Robinson
3. Wikipedia: John McGraw
4. Wikipedia: Baltimore Orioles (1882-1899)
5. Baseball Reference: Wilbert Robinson
6. Baseball Reference: John McGraw
7. Baseball Reference: Giants vs. Robins Box Score, October 5, 1916
8. SABR: Wilbert Robinson, by Alex Semchuck
9. SABR: John McGraw, by Don Jensen
10. SABR: October 3, 1916, Brooklyn Clinches the NL Pennant as John McGraw Throws Himself Out of the Game, by Mark S. Sternman
11. Baseball Almanac: Baseball Book Review: Uncle Robbie, by Dr. Donald McKim
12. Memories & Dreams: Wilbert Robinson, by Marty Appel
13. Mighty Casey Baseball: John McGraw – A Different Perspective, by Paul Proia
14. Dying To Tell Their Stories: Robinson and McGraw Rest In New Cathedral Cemetery
15. McGraw’s & Robinson’s Former Baltimore Homes Damaged by Fire, by David B. Stinson
16. The Real McGraw, by Mrs. John J. McGraw; Edited by Arthur Mann

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