John McGraw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John McGraw
McGraw in 1910
Third baseman / Manager
Born: (1873-04-07)April 7, 1873 Truxton, New York, U.S.
Died: February 25, 1934(1934-02-25) (aged 60) New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
August 26, 1891, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last appearance
September 12, 1906, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average	.334
Home runs	13
Runs batted in	462
Stolen bases	436
Managerial record	2,763–1,948
Winning %	.586
Teams
As player Baltimore Orioles (AA/NL) (1891–1899) St. Louis Cardinals (1900) Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902) New York Giants (1902–1906) As manager Baltimore Orioles (NL) (1899) Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902) New York Giants (1902–1932)
Career highlights and awards
3× World Series champion (1905, 1921, 1922) Name honored by the Giants
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1937
Election Method	Centennial Commission

John Joseph McGraw (April 7, 1873 – February 25, 1934) was a famous American Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager. He managed the New York Giants for almost 30 years. He was also a third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1890s. Those Orioles teams were known for their smart and aggressive way of playing baseball.

McGraw grew up in Truxton, New York. Baseball became a way for him to succeed. He quickly moved up through the minor leagues and joined the Orioles at age 18. Under manager Ned Hanlon, the Orioles won three National League (NL) championships. McGraw was a key player, along with Wee Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings, and Wilbert Robinson. The Orioles were famous for plays like the hit and run and the Baltimore chop. They also tried to win by playing very tough against other teams and the umpire.

Around 1900, there were many changes in MLB. McGraw became manager of the Orioles in 1899 when he was 26. People praised his leadership skills. The National League Orioles team was later dissolved. McGraw played one season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Then he returned to Baltimore as a player-manager for a new Orioles team in the American League (AL). He had disagreements with AL president Ban Johnson. In 1902, he left to manage the Giants, bringing several Orioles players with him.

For nearly 30 years, McGraw managed the Giants. He had a lot of control over his players and the team. He led them to great success, winning ten championships and three World Series. His 2,763 wins as an MLB manager rank third all-time. Only Connie Mack and Tony La Russa have more. He holds the NL record for managing 31 seasons. Many consider McGraw one of the greatest managers in baseball history. He retired in 1932 due to health issues. He passed away less than two years later. His last public appearance was managing the NL team in the first All-Star Game in 1933.

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

McGraw's father came from Ireland in 1856. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He later moved to Truxton, New York, in 1871 and worked on the railroad. John McGraw was born there on April 7, 1873.

His family was large and didn't have much money. Young John loved baseball from a very young age. He did odd jobs to save money. He bought a baseball from the Spalding company. He used it to practice his pitching.

In 1885, a serious illness affected his family. John's mother and four of his siblings passed away. This was a very difficult time for his father. John Sr. and young John often argued about baseball. John Jr. would sometimes break windows while playing. After one such incident, John Jr. went to live with a neighbor, Mary Goddard. She ran the local hotel and helped him.

While living with Mary Goddard, John went to school. He also worked several jobs. This helped him save money for baseballs. He also bought Spalding magazines. These magazines explained the rule changes in the major leagues. He quickly became the best player on his school team. When he was 16, he started playing for his town's team, the Truxton Grays. Their manager, Albert "Bert" Kenney, was impressed. McGraw could play any position. His strong curveball made him a star pitcher. His connection with Kenney helped him start his professional baseball career.

Playing Baseball in the Minor Leagues

In 1890, Bert Kenney bought part of a new professional baseball team in Olean, New York. The team was in the new New York–Pennsylvania League. Kenney became the player-manager for Olean. He was in charge of finding players. McGraw asked to join the team. Kenney wasn't sure if McGraw's curveball would fool pro players. But McGraw promised he could play any position. So, Kenney signed him on April 1, 1890. McGraw never lived in Truxton again after that.

Olean was 200 miles from Truxton. This was the farthest McGraw had ever traveled. He started the season on the bench. After two days, Kenney put him in the starting lineup at third base. McGraw struggled with his fielding. He made seven more errors in nine tries that day. The team and McGraw didn't play well. Kenney fired him after six games. But Kenney gave him $70 and wished him good luck. McGraw then signed with a team in Wellsville, New York. They played in the Western New York League. This was a lower level of minor league baseball. McGraw still had trouble with fielding. But in 24 games, he showed his hitting talent. He had a batting average of .365.

After that first season, McGraw joined a team for the offseason. This team was run by Alfred Lawson. McGraw joined the team in Ocala, Florida. They sailed from Tampa to Havana, Cuba. There, they played against local teams. McGraw played shortstop. He became a favorite with the Cuban fans. They called him "el mono amarillo" (the yellow monkey). This referred to his speed, small size, and yellow uniform. McGraw loved Cuba and visited many times later in his life.

In February 1891, Lawson took his team to Gainesville, Florida. He convinced the National League Cleveland Spiders to play his team. McGraw hit three doubles in five turns at bat. He played perfectly at shortstop. Reports from that game made many minor league teams want to sign him. Lawson helped McGraw as his agent. He told McGraw to ask for $125 a month and a $75 advance. The manager of the Cedar Rapids team in the Illinois–Iowa League sent the money first. McGraw signed with them. Other teams claimed McGraw had also taken money from them. McGraw said he returned it. This didn't stop him from playing with Cedar Rapids.

By August, the league had money problems. But McGraw was hitting .275. He was known as a tough shortstop. Billy Barnie, manager of the American Association's Baltimore Orioles, heard about McGraw. He asked Bill Gleason, a former Oriole, for a recommendation. It must have been good. Barnie then asked Hank Smith, another former Oriole playing for Cedar Rapids, if Baltimore could get McGraw. Cedar Rapids let McGraw go. He traveled by train to Baltimore. McGraw arrived in Baltimore on August 24, 1891. He was still only 18 years old. But he was now a major league baseball player. McGraw described Baltimore as "a dirty, dreary, ramshackle sort of place." Barnie was not impressed by McGraw's short height. But McGraw told him, "I'm bigger than I look."

McGraw playing for Olean in 1890

Baltimore Orioles Player

Early Years with the Orioles (1891–1894)

In the short part of the 1891 season with the Orioles, McGraw hit .245. He started at shortstop. But his fielding was poor (18 errors in 86 chances). So, Barnie tried him at other positions. Barnie left before the season ended. Despite his fielding, McGraw signed a contract for 1892. The American Association league ended after 1891. The Orioles and other teams joined an expanded National League.

In 1892, the Orioles owner hired outfielder Ned Hanlon to manage the team. The Orioles lost over 100 games and finished last. Hanlon only kept three players: pitcher Sadie McMahon, catcher Wilbert Robinson, and McGraw. Hanlon saw that McGraw's strong will was more important than his agility. McGraw never gave up. He pushed his teammates to play better. In 1892, McGraw hit .267 with 14 stolen bases. He played many different positions. During the offseason, McGraw went to Allegany College (now St. Bonaventure). He coached baseball there to pay for his classes.

In 1893, Hanlon got Hughie Jennings from the Louisville Colonels. Jennings was a shortstop, so McGraw moved from that position. The team finished eighth in 1893. McGraw hit .327, second best on the team. He led the league in runs scored. He spent a second winter at St. Bonaventure with Robinson. McGraw almost got traded to the Washington Senators. But the trade didn't happen. Hanlon decided McGraw could play third base. He traded two infielders for batting champion Dan Brouthers and outfielder Willie Keeler.

Baltimore's "Big Four": McGraw (standing, to the right), with outfielder Joe Kelley (seated left), shortstop Hughie Jennings (seated right), and Wee Willie Keeler (standing left)

The Orioles had spring training in Macon, Georgia, in 1894. Hanlon taught the players new strategies. He also taught them how to use baseball's rules to their advantage. The Orioles became known for new plays. These included the Baltimore chop. This was hitting the ball so it bounced high. This gave the batter time to reach first base. They also had the pitcher cover first base. They were also the first team to use the hit and run play regularly. McGraw often led these discussions. A sportswriter called him "a fine ball-player, yet he adopts every low and contemptible method that his erratic brain can conceive to win a play by a dirty trick". This included pushing and blocking baserunners. At that time, there was often only one umpire.

McGraw usually batted first for the 1894 Orioles. He hit .340 and stole 78 bases, second in the league. He would foul off many pitches. Before 1901, foul balls usually didn't count as strikes. He and Keeler were masters of the hit and run. Many players lived in the same Baltimore boarding house. They talked baseball late into the night. They discovered that a runner on third could score easily. This happened if they left when the pitcher started to throw and the batter bunted. This started the squeeze play. McGraw's tough play earned him the nickname "Muggsy". He really disliked this name. The Orioles won their first championship. They beat the New York Giants and the Boston Beaneaters. They lost the postseason Temple Cup series to the Giants. After a short visit home, McGraw spent the winter at St. Bonaventure.

Championship Years and Changes (1895–1899)

The Orioles' "Big Four" (McGraw, Jennings, Keeler, and Joe Kelley) held out for more money in 1895. But they joined the team for spring training. By 1895, McGraw was known for his aggressive style. Some writers wanted Hanlon to control him. Others said fans loved watching him play that way. The Orioles won their second straight championship. But they lost the Temple Cup again. McGraw got sick with malaria. He missed part of the season. But he still hit .369 in 96 games. He had 61 stolen bases and scored 110 runs. McGraw went back to St. Bonaventure for the winter.

McGraw (2nd from left, front row) with the 1896 Baltimore Orioles

During 1896 spring training, McGraw got typhoid fever in Atlanta. He recovered by late August. The Orioles had almost won their third straight championship. This time, they won the Temple Cup against the Spiders. McGraw played only 23 games for Baltimore, hitting .325. After the season, the Big Four traveled to Britain, Belgium, and France. In February 1897, McGraw married Minnie Doyle. McGraw and the Orioles had a disappointing 1897 season. McGraw hit .325. The team had many injuries. Baltimore lost the championship to the Beaneaters. But the Orioles won the last Temple Cup. In 1898, McGraw hit .342. But the Orioles finished second again, six games behind the Beaneaters.

The Orioles' success didn't bring more fans. Attendance actually dropped as they won championships. Baseball also faced financial problems due to the Spanish–American War in 1898. Before the 1899 season, the Orioles owners bought shares in the Dodgers. The Dodgers owners also bought shares in the Orioles. Brooklyn had better attendance. So, manager Hanlon and the best Orioles players moved to Brooklyn. McGraw and Robinson refused to go. They had financial ties in Baltimore. Before the 1899 season, McGraw became player-manager of the Orioles.

McGraw taught his players the Orioles' style of play. He led by example, hitting .391 that season. Attendance in Baltimore increased. The Orioles stayed close to Brooklyn in the championship race. But in late August, McGraw had to leave the team. His wife was very ill. By the time he returned, after her passing, Brooklyn had won the championship. The Orioles finished fourth. Still, newspapers praised McGraw as a great manager. He had made the Orioles play so well despite his personal difficulties.

Moving to St. Louis and the American League Orioles

The National League had financial problems. Before the 1900 season, four NL teams, including Baltimore, were shut down. McGraw and Robinson were sold to the St. Louis Cardinals. They didn't report until the season started. They had secured higher salaries. Their contracts also didn't include the reserve clause. This clause usually tied players to their team for the next season. So, they would be free agents after 1900. McGraw was injured for part of the season. He hit .337 in 98 games. The Cardinals finished tied for fifth. When manager Patsy Tebeau resigned in August, McGraw said he would not replace him.

Ban Johnson, president of the minor league Western League, wanted to create a second major league. He wanted baseball without rough play or arguments with umpires. McGraw and Robinson were known for tough play. But Johnson wanted them for his plans. He renamed his league the American League (AL). He wanted to put teams in cities where NL teams had left, like Baltimore. Johnson believed he could control them. Teams had to give the league an option to buy a majority stake. This meant the league could take over if needed.

Even while with the Cardinals, McGraw and Robinson met about making the Western League a major league. On November 12, 1900, they signed an agreement with Johnson. It gave them the right to form an AL team in Baltimore. They found local financial support. McGraw spent the winter trying to sign players. He tried to sign Charley Grant, an African-American second baseman. McGraw claimed Grant was Native American. But Charles Comiskey, owner of the AL Chicago White Sox, knew the truth. This ended McGraw's only attempt to break the baseball color line. McGraw, like many people at the time, didn't have strong views about African Americans. After this, McGraw kept a list of talented African-American players. He wanted to be ready if the major leagues ever allowed them to play. This didn't happen during his lifetime.

McGraw batted first and managed the Orioles when Major League Baseball returned to Baltimore in 1901. But he missed games due to injuries. He was also suspended by Johnson for arguing with an umpire. The Orioles finished fifth. McGraw hit .349 in 73 games. The team lost money. On January 8, 1902, McGraw married Blanche Sindall. Her father was a housing contractor in Baltimore.

Manager of the New York Giants (1902–1932)

Becoming the Giants Manager

McGraw started the 1902 season with a knee injury. He also faced suspensions. A baserunner's sharpened spikes caused a deep cut. So, he played few games for the Orioles. The team was in the middle of the league standings. People thought Johnson would move the team to New York. McGraw knew managing a New York AL team was a big chance. But he believed Johnson planned to get rid of him. So, McGraw acted first.

On June 18, 1902, the Orioles were on a road trip. Robinson was acting manager. McGraw, who was recovering, went to New York. He met with Andrew Freedman, owner of the Giants. They planned for McGraw to switch leagues. They also planned to weaken the Orioles and maybe the AL. When McGraw played again on June 28, he argued with the umpire. The umpire kicked him out of the game. When McGraw refused to leave, the game was forfeited to Boston. Johnson suspended McGraw indefinitely for this.

McGraw then went to the Baltimore team directors. He demanded they pay back $7,000 he had given for player salaries. Or, he wanted them to release him. The team agreed to release him on July 8. McGraw sold his share in the club to John Mahon. Mahon was a team official and Joe Kelley's father-in-law. McGraw immediately announced he would sign to manage the Giants. He did so the next day. His salary of $11,000 was the highest for any player or manager at that time.

Freedman then bought a controlling share of the Orioles from Mahon, Kelley, and others. He then released Orioles players Joe McGinnity, Dan McGann, Roger Bresnahan, and Jack Cronin. All of them quickly signed with the Giants. Cincinnati Reds owner John T. Brush, who also owned a small part of the Giants, was in on the deal. He signed Kelley as manager of the Reds and also outfielder Cy Seymour. Baltimore had so few players left that they had to forfeit their next game. This crisis could have destroyed the American League. But Johnson quickly took over the Baltimore team. He got the other seven AL teams to send players to the Orioles. The Orioles finished last. After the season, the two leagues made a peace agreement. The AL replaced the Baltimore team with one in New York City. That team became the Highlanders, and later the New York Yankees.

Historians say McGraw acted "totally ruthless and unscrupulous" during this time. He wanted to make sure he was part of the Orioles' move to New York. Baseball historian Fred Lieb, who knew both men, said McGraw and Johnson never spoke again.

Building a Winning Team (1902–1904)

When McGraw took over, the Giants had a record of 22 wins and 50 losses. They were in last place. McGraw released four players by telegram. He released two more when they returned to New York. McGraw played sometimes. He also spent time in AL cities trying to sign players. This made other teams' managers unhappy. The Giants finished last. At the end of the season, Freedman sold the team to Brush. McGraw's knee injury limited his playing. He hit .286 in 20 games with Baltimore and .234 in 35 games with the Giants. This was his last season as a full-time player. He stayed on the roster until 1906. McGraw used a clever strategy. He had pitcher Dummy Taylor, who was deaf, teach his teammates sign language. This helped the team communicate on the field. It also improved Taylor's relationship with his teammates. The Giants used sign language until Chicago's Johnny Evers figured it out.

McGraw's knee injury continued in 1903 spring training. This kept him from playing much that season. He also broke his nose early in the year from a ball thrown by Taylor. The injury caused breathing problems for the rest of his life. During spring training, McGraw worked to build a good relationship with the team's star, pitcher Christy Mathewson. The two men and their wives became very close. They even shared an apartment in New York City. McGraw also built a strong bond with the new Giants owner, Brush. Their partnership worked well. Brush provided the money, and McGraw made the baseball decisions.

McGraw's new Giants team started strong in 1903. They were in first place by the end of May. They were ahead of the Pirates, who had won the championship twice. Large crowds came to the Polo Grounds, more than in a decade. The team was still coming together. They later faded and finished second. They were 6.5 games behind the Pirates. But McGinnity won 31 games, and Mathewson won 30. Mathewson also led the league in strikeouts. As a player, McGraw played in 11 games and hit .273. The Giants' success, and McGraw's tough style, brought big crowds. People came to see them at home and away. McGraw said, "it is the prospect of a hot feud, that brings out the crowd."

Before the 1904 season, McGraw said his team was the strongest he had ever led. He predicted the Giants would win the championship. The team played very well. By September, they had a 15-game lead over the Chicago Cubs. The Highlanders (who became the Yankees) were leading the AL. So, there was pressure for McGraw and Brush to agree to a postseason series. This would later be called the World Series. The Pirates had played one the year before. But both men refused. McGraw said there was no rule to play a series against "a victorious club in a minor league". Historians believe both men disliked Ban Johnson. They also feared losing the series to the AL champions. The Giants won the championship. They set a major league record (at that time) with 106 victories.

World Series Wins and Challenges (1905–1908)

McGraw kept building his team in the 1904–1905 offseason. He bought Sammy Strang from Brooklyn. Strang played many positions. He also helped McGraw with a new idea: the pinch hitter. Part of his job was to bat for other players. McGraw taught his players the aggressive techniques of the old Orioles. Strang said years later, “It was a team of fighters. They thought they could beat anybody and they generally could." The team easily won its second straight championship. McGraw always said this was the best team he ever managed. They won 105 games. The Pirates finished second, nine games behind. McGraw was ejected from games 13 times. This was a personal record for him. The Giants agreed to play a postseason series against the AL champions. These were the Philadelphia Athletics, managed by Connie Mack. The 1905 World Series featured amazing pitching. Every game was a shutout. Mathewson pitched three of them, and McGinnity pitched one. The Giants won, four games to one. McGraw received a new contract for $15,000 per year. This victory made the Giants heroes in New York. McGraw became one of the most famous people in the city.

McGraw discusses an issue with an umpire and two members of the Philadelphia Athletics at Columbia Park during the 1905 World Series

McGraw was sure the Giants would win a third straight NL championship. He put "World's Champions" on the front of his team's uniforms. But Mathewson got sick. Outfielder Mike Donlin broke a leg. The Giants finished second, 20 games behind the Cubs. McGraw played his last games. He had no hits in two turns at bat in four games. His career on-base percentage of .466 is still third-best all-time. Only Ted Williams (.482) and Babe Ruth (.474) are higher.

McGraw made few changes for the 1907 Giants. But by mid-July, the Cubs pulled ahead. New York finished fourth, 25.5 games behind. McGraw later said, "It was in 1907 that I discovered my players were growing old and beginning to slip. Always I have made it a point never to let a club grow old on me."

McGraw brought many new players to spring training in Marlin, Texas. They trained with veterans like Mathewson. People didn't expect much from the team. But in early July, the Cubs, Giants, and Pirates were all very close. A key game was on September 23 against the Cubs. The score was tied in the ninth inning with two outs. Al Bridwell hit a ball into center field. It looked like the winning run would score. But rookie Fred Merkle, on first base, didn't touch second base. He headed for the clubhouse. This was common then. But Chicago second baseman Johnny Evers got the ball and stepped on second base. The umpires called Merkle out. The game was a tie. The makeup game was played to decide first place. It was in front of 40,000 fans. The Giants lost the game and the championship, 4–2. Despite this, McGraw told Merkle to move past it. Merkle even got a $300 raise in his 1909 contract.

New Challenges and World Series Losses (1909–1914)

Many Giants players played well in 1908. Mathewson won 37 games. But McGraw knew the team needed to rebuild. McGinnity and Dummy Taylor were released. Bresnahan was traded to St. Louis to become their manager. McGraw made baseball history by hiring the first full-time coach, Arlie Latham. In 1909, the young players weren't fully developed. The older players continued to decline. The Giants finished third, behind the Pirates. In 1910, Mathewson had another great season. But the pitching was inconsistent. The Giants finished a distant second to the Cubs. That offseason, McGraw was happy with his team. He didn't make any trades for the first time in years.

The Giants' 1911 season started badly. The Polo Grounds burned down the night after their opening day loss. The team temporarily moved to Hilltop Park. The young and fast Giants set a record for stolen bases with 347. This is still the most for any team since 1900. The Giants were in third place in August. But they got hot and rallied to win the championship. Some said the Giants' success was due to their mascot, Charles Faust. McGraw, like many players, was superstitious. He let Faust sit on the bench in uniform. The Giants lost the 1911 World Series to the Athletics in six games.

John McGraw greets fellow manager Jake Stahl at the 1912 World Series.

McGraw thought Faust was no longer a good-luck charm. But he let him sit in the dugout in street clothes. The Giants won 54 of their first 66 games in 1912. Pitcher Rube Marquard won 19 games in a row. Both the team and Marquand struggled starting in July. The Cubs got within 3.5 games. But the Giants recovered to win their second straight championship. In the 1912 World Series, the Giants lost to the Boston Red Sox. The series was four games to three, with one tie. The Giants had the lead in the tenth inning of the final game. Mathewson was pitching. But fielding mistakes, including a famous error by Fred Snodgrass, led to the Giants' defeat.

After the 1912 season, McGraw performed in vaudeville for several months. He earned $3,000 a week, the highest in the industry then. Brush passed away after the season. Control of the Giants went to his family, including Harry Hempstead, the new team president. Hempstead gave McGraw a new five-year contract for $30,000 per year. Before the 1913 season, McGraw signed Olympic decathlete Jim Thorpe. This signing was partly a publicity stunt. But McGraw hoped Thorpe's athleticism would make him a good major leaguer. Thorpe played off and on for three teams over six seasons.

The Giants won their third straight championship in 1913. They finished 12.5 games ahead of the Phillies. But the Giants lost their third straight World Series. They lost to the Athletics in five games. They became one of only two teams to lose World Series in three years in a row.

Some people said McGraw's Giants lost the World Series because he chose players who fit his system. They thought he didn't always pick the very best players. Others thought his players got nervous in key moments. Mathewson, in a column after the 1913 season, called the Giants a "team of puppets being manipulated from the bench on a string".

During the 1913–14 offseason, John McGraw and White Sox owner Comiskey led two teams of baseball players on a world tour. Blanche McGraw went with her husband. Before the 1914 season, a new league, the Federal League, tried to attract famous players and managers. McGraw was reportedly offered up to $100,000 to jump to the Federals. He didn't. The Giants led the league on Fourth of July. The Boston Braves were in last place. But the Braves then made an amazing comeback. Within six weeks, they were close behind the Giants. Boston beat the Giants on Labor Day. They finished first, 10.5 games ahead of the Giants. McGraw became grumpy as his team collapsed. He accused players of being too confident. The Giants played a postseason exhibition series against the Yankees. But McGraw didn't manage them there. He attended the World Series instead.

Rebuilding and More Championships (1915–1924)

The Giants finished last in 1915. Mathewson won only eight games. McGraw let go of Marquand, Snodgrass, and Thorpe. The 1916 Giants were changing. McGraw traded some of the last players from the 1911–1913 teams. Mathewson was sent to Cincinnati. McGraw was sad to see Mathewson go. People praised him for giving Mathewson a chance to manage the Reds. But McGraw might have been bothered by Mathewson's column after the 1913 World Series. The Giants attracted big crowds in September. They won 26 games in a row, which is still an MLB record. But they only finished fourth.

McGraw made few changes before the 1917 season. The 1917 Giants were described as "basically mediocre". By early June, the Giants were building a comfortable lead. They held it all season. McGraw was fined and suspended for attacking umpire Bill Byron. This happened after a June 7 game in Cincinnati. His suspension was doubled when he criticized league president John Tener. Still, the Giants won the championship by 11 games over the Phillies. The Giants faced the White Sox in the 1917 World Series. The White Sox had better players like Eddie Collins and Shoeless Joe Jackson. The Giants lost in six games.

The Giants were expected to win the championship again in 1918. They stayed close to the lead early in the season. But players joined the military for World War I. McGraw, being patriotic, didn't object. The team didn't have enough talent to catch the Cubs. The Cubs finished 10.5 games ahead of the Giants. In the winter of 1918–19, McGraw learned that the Brush family wanted to sell the team. McGraw looked for a buyer. He found Charles Stoneham, a stockbroker. As part of the deal, Stoneham made McGraw a partner. McGraw became the team's vice president. McGraw bought his share of the Giants with money loaned by Stoneham. The new owner trusted McGraw completely. He gave McGraw full control over baseball decisions. He was also willing to provide money for player trades.

In 1919, the Giants started strong. They won 24 of their first 32 games. Giants players Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman might have helped to fix key games against Cincinnati. The Giants finished second to the Reds. After it became clear how much gambling affected baseball in 1919 (the year of the famous Chicago "Black Sox"), McGraw said he took action against both players. He suspended Zimmerman in mid-September. But Chase stayed with the Giants almost until the end of the season.

In 1920, the Giants were changing again. They had some older players and young talents like Ross Youngs and Frankie Frisch. There were problems. Frisch was out with appendicitis. McGraw had two short suspensions. He got into a fight and stayed in his apartment. During his absence, coach Johnny Evers ran the team. McGraw eventually answered questions from local prosecutors. He was also questioned by federal agents enforcing the Prohibition era Volstead Act. McGraw rejoined his team. But they couldn't catch Brooklyn. They finished second again. McGraw was found not guilty of violating the Volstead Act.

McGraw (right) with Babe Ruth

At the start of the 1921 season, McGraw felt he had his best team ever. But he still made changes. Mid-season, he made a deal with the Phillies. He got Johnny Rawlings, Irish Meusel, and Casey Stengel, among others. Getting Meusel allowed McGraw to move Frisch to third base. Stengel allowed McGraw to platoon his outfielders. Stengel didn't play much at first. This helped his future career as a manager. He watched McGraw closely. He often spent nights at McGraw's house, talking baseball. He watched as the Giants fell 7.5 games behind the Pirates. Then, they swept the Pirates in a five-game series in late August. They passed them on September 11. They won the championship by four games.

The 1921 World Series was against the New York Yankees. The Yankees rented the Polo Grounds from the Giants. The Yankees had drawn more fans since getting slugger Babe Ruth in 1920. The Giants faced serious competition for New York sports fans' money. Stoneham and McGraw thought about kicking the Yankees out. The Yankees had set an MLB record by drawing over a million fans in 1920. But they settled for a higher rent. McGraw, who liked inside baseball, didn't like the Yankees' strategy. It seemed to be just getting on base and waiting for Ruth to hit a home run. In 1921, the Yankees won their first championship. They again drew more fans than the Giants. Ruth hit 59 home runs. The Giants lost the first two games of the best-of-nine series. But McGraw was confident his team would start hitting. They won five of the next six games. Ruth was limited by an injury. He only appeared as a pinch-hitter in Game Eight. McGraw was manager of a World Series champion for the first time since 1905. He said, "I have the greatest baseball team in the world. And unquestionably the gamest."

Before the 1922 season, Stoneham gave McGraw a new five-year contract for $50,000 per year. This was a $10,000 raise. McGraw became the highest-paid person in baseball, except for Ruth and Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Commissioner of Baseball. McGraw made several player trades before the season. He got Heinie Groh and Jimmy O'Connell. McGraw also convinced Bill Terry, who would later manage the team, to sign with the Giants. Terry had a good job with Standard Oil and didn't want to sign at first. The Giants led the standings for most of the 1922 season. They won their second straight championship. Historians say it was a very good team. They were talented, experienced, and smart. They all believed John McGraw was the greatest manager ever. In the 1922 World Series, which was back to a best-of-seven format, the Giants beat the Yankees four games to none, with one tie. Giants pitchers held Ruth to only two hits and a .118 batting average. The Giants not only beat the Yankees, but they also kicked them out. Stoneham told the Yankees they couldn't stay at the Polo Grounds after 1922. Yankee Stadium was being built across the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds.

Before the 1923 season, McGraw published his book, My Thirty Years in Baseball. In 1923, the Giants were in first place all season. They didn't run away with it, but they won their third straight championship. In the 1923 World Series, the Yankees beat the Giants four games to two. McGraw's former player, Stengel, hit home runs to win both games for the Yankees. McGraw had been proud that Ruth was held in check in the first two Yankees–Giants World Series. But in the 1923 series, Ruth hit three home runs. The rivalry between the two teams grew stronger. McGraw refused the Yankees permission to add rookie Lou Gehrig to their World Series roster. Gehrig was injured, and the Yankees wanted to replace him with Wally Pipp. Gehrig had joined the Yankees too late to be eligible. But the team had Landis's permission, and similar changes had been made before. After the season, McGraw tried to rebuild the Giants. He traded veterans like Stengel to make room for young players like Terry.

McGraw in 1924

In 1924, the Giants were challenged by Brooklyn, managed by Robinson. Brooklyn started strong and led the league. They stayed close. On September 6, they took the league lead for a few hours. But the Giants won the second game of a doubleheader to get back ahead. McGraw missed part of the season due to illness. Coach Hughie Jennings, McGraw's old teammate, managed the Giants. The Giants won the championship by beating the Phillies in the third-to-last game. But the championship was affected by a scandal. Landis expelled O'Connell and coach Cozy Dolan from baseball. They had tried to bribe Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand. This was the second gambling scandal involving the Giants. In 1922, pitcher Phil Douglas was banned for life by Landis for trying to bribe Leslie Mann of the Cardinals. Dolan was a close friend of McGraw. But McGraw was not suspected. People believed he was honest, despite his tough reputation. In the 1924 World Series, the Giants lost in seven games to the Washington Senators. Still, the four straight championships made the Giants the first team to play in four consecutive World Series. As of 2021, only the Yankees have done this or better.

Later Years and Retirement (1925–1932)

For the rest of McGraw's career, the Giants had good teams. But none were good enough to win the championship. In 1925, the Giants were expected to win a fifth straight championship. But early injuries held them back. The Pirates took an early lead. The Giants lost a series to the Pirates in August. They couldn't recover and finished 8.5 games back. In 1926, Mel Ott debuted at age 16. But the Giants had a losing record, 74–77, finishing fifth. This was their worst finish since 1915. McGraw also lost a lot of money in a land deal in Florida. To protect his good name, he repaid investors $100,000.

Before the 1927 season, McGraw sent Frisch and Jimmy Ring to the Cardinals. In return, he got their second baseman and player-manager, Rogers Hornsby. This trade was one of the most sensational in baseball history. Hornsby managed the Giants when McGraw missed games due to sinusitis. The Giants were in the championship race until almost the end. But they finished third, two games behind the Pirates. After the season, Hornsby was traded to the Braves. He had hit .361, second in the league. But he had argued with Giants team officials.

Despite losing Hornsby, McGraw believed his 1928 team would win the championship. The team was boosted by signing pitcher Carl Hubbell. The team stayed in the hunt most of the way. But they finished second, two games behind the Cardinals. Critics said that if McGraw had kept Hornsby and pitcher Burleigh Grimes (who he also traded), the Giants would have won. In 1929, the Giants were no match for the Hornsby-led Cubs. The Cubs led the league by 10.5 games and the Giants by 20 by the end of July. With little chance of winning, McGraw missed many games due to illness or scouting players. He left the team to Ray Schalk. The Giants finished third. In 1930, McGraw's Giants were in the championship race almost until the end. But they finished third, five games behind the Cardinals. In 1931, despite McGraw's high hopes, the Giants finished second, 13 games behind the Cardinals.

Retirement and Legacy

McGraw believed his 1932 team could win the championship. But the Giants started poorly. McGraw missed much of a road trip due to illness. Bancroft managed during the home games. McGraw also managed from the clubhouse. By June 1, the team was in last place. Some players were unhappy with McGraw. They didn't like that he called every pitch and controlled their lives off the field. McGraw had more and more health problems. He decided he couldn't continue as manager.

Frisch was McGraw's first choice to replace him. But the Cardinals, where Frisch played, refused. Bancroft was ruled out because he had failed as a manager for the Braves. Terry was the best choice. After McGraw talked to him, Terry became manager on June 3, 1932. McGraw remained as vice president.

For the rest of the season, McGraw stayed out of the way. Terry relaxed some of McGraw's strict rules for players. He led the team to a sixth-place finish. McGraw spent much of the offseason in Cuba. He was cheered by the crowd on opening day at the Polo Grounds. When the first All-Star Game was held in July 1933, McGraw was named manager of the NL team. He faced Connie Mack, who still managed the Athletics. McGraw named the NL starting lineup. But he didn't do much managing during the game. He left that to Frisch and Terry. The AL beat the NL, 4–2. McGraw said he would not manage again, "I'm through with it. I have quit."

The Giants won the 1933 NL championship. McGraw was at all five games of the 1933 World Series. The Giants defeated the Senators. McGraw spoke at the celebration at New York City Hall. By this time, he had been diagnosed with a serious illness. McGraw spent much of late 1933 and early 1934 at home with his wife Blanche. He still went to the Giants offices sometimes. He even attended NL meetings in New York. He was admitted to the hospital in New Rochelle on February 16. His wife stayed with him. He received visits from Stoneham and others. On February 24, he fell into a coma. He passed away the next morning, at age 60.

Commissioner Landis said McGraw showed "the strong competitive nature of baseball". Terry called him, "far and away the greatest baseball manager of all time". Ty Cobb said McGraw was someone, "who put everything he had into baseball, both as a player and manager ... the game needs more like him". His funeral mass was at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. His body was then taken by train to Baltimore. He was placed in a vault at New Cathedral Cemetery.

Managerial Statistics

* Also released as a player since McGraw was a player/manager.

Honors and Recognition

John McGraw was honored alongside the retired numbers of the San Francisco Giants in 1986.

Blanche McGraw lived almost 30 years after her husband. She passed away on November 4, 1962. She had a lifetime pass to a special box at the Polo Grounds. She attended many games until the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958. She was there when her husband was honored on opening day at the Polo Grounds on April 17, 1934. Later that year, a plaque to McGraw was unveiled at the 1934 All-Star Game there. She was present when the National Baseball Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown, New York, in 1939. Her husband was elected in 1937, along with Keeler and Mathewson. She attended many Hall of Fame ceremonies after that. She watched every World Series game the Giants played at the Polo Grounds during her widowhood. She was sad when the Giants moved to California. But she still attended their last game at the Polo Grounds. She also went to their first game in San Francisco. In 1962, she returned to the Polo Grounds when National League baseball came back. This was for the home opener of the new New York Mets.

In 1938, the Giants traveled to McGraw's hometown of Truxton. They played a local team. The money from the game was used to build a memorial for McGraw. The John McGraw Monument was built in 1942. It stands in the center of Truxton village.

McGraw played before numbers were worn on jerseys. But in 1986, the Giants honored him. They placed him among the players whose numbers they have retired. In 1958, St. Bonaventure University named its athletic fields after McGraw and his teammate, Hughie Jennings. This honored the time they spent coaching there.

McGraw's Managerial Style

McGraw and Casey Stengel have managed the most league championships, with ten each. McGraw also holds the NL record for seasons managed, with 31. He managed the Giants for 30 seasons and the original Orioles for one. He is third among major league managers in wins with 2,763. Only Connie Mack and Tony La Russa have more wins. However, McGraw's winning percentage as a manager is higher than theirs.

McGraw was tough on his players. But he made them play their best. They wanted to play for him. He cared mostly about winning. McGraw took chances on players. He signed some who other teams had given up on. He often got a few more good seasons out of them. Sometimes these risks worked, sometimes they didn't. McGraw took a risk signing famous athlete Jim Thorpe in 1913. Thorpe didn't have a great major league career. He was athletic, but "he couldn't hit a ball that curved." McGraw wanted to control his players on the field. He called every pitch and play. It's said he once fined a player for hitting a game-winning home run. This was because McGraw had called for a bunt.

McGraw was one of the first to use a relief pitcher to save games. He used Claude Elliott as a relief pitcher eight times in ten appearances in 1905. Saves weren't an official statistic until 1969. But Elliott was later given credit for six saves that season. This was the most for any pitcher at that time. In 1906, the Giants' George Ferguson became the first reliever with over 20 appearances. Doc Crandall repeatedly set records for relief appearances between 1909 and 1913.

McGraw paid attention to details. He was also an inspiring leader. According to Bill James, McGraw "lived to teach young men how to play baseball." He loved teaching young men to play baseball. Throughout his career, he took many young men with little or no minor league experience. He worked with them until they became outstanding players. Chris Jaffe, who studies baseball managers, wrote that the best managers, like McGraw, could turn raw talent into amazing teams. McGraw built his teams to get on base more often than their opponents. Teams that do this usually win. McGraw's teams had the best difference in hits, walks, and hit by pitches in baseball history. McGraw's Giants were hit by pitches more often than they hit opponents every year from 1903 to 1929. No other major league team has matched this. McGraw didn't like the home run era. He thought it was less interesting. But he was flexible enough to find sluggers to help his team win. However, McGraw never liked the farm system. This system was built by Branch Rickey of the Cardinals. It developed young talent in the minor leagues. The Cardinals won nine championships between 1926 and 1946 using this system. The Giants fell behind other teams in this area.

McGraw believed he had to remove anything that could distract his teams from winning. For example, Stengel remembered that McGraw would check the meal tickets at the team hotel. He would tell players if they weren't eating right. For most of his time, he set a curfew. He and his coaches would knock on players' hotel room doors at 11:30 pm sharp. He fined players for being too friendly with other teams. He didn't allow smiling in the dugout. As James said, with McGraw, "the rules were well understood." Anyone who broke these rules would face McGraw himself. This was usually not a fun experience. Arlie Latham, McGraw's longtime coach, said, "McGraw eats gunpowder for breakfast and washes it down with warm blood."

Jaffe felt that a modern comparison to McGraw was Bobby Knight. Knight was a successful basketball coach known for his strong personality. In his almost 30 years with the Giants, McGraw developed many good players. But he had few true superstars. This is similar to Bobby Knight, whose only true NBA star was Isiah Thomas. Both McGraw and Knight looked for players who would fit their system. According to Jaffe, "McGraw won ten pennants in 30 years based on his ability to work with players like Fred Merkle and Fred Snodgrass. McGraw coaxed four consecutive pennants out of a team led by Ross Youngs, George Kelly, Dave Bancroft, and a foundling Frisch ... McGraw had a plan, found the guys who fit into it, and pushed them relentlessly."

Images for kids

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  McGraw playing for Olean in 1890

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  Baltimore's "Big Four": McGraw (standing, to the right), with outfielder Joe Kelley (seated left), shortstop Hughie Jennings (seated right), and Wee Willie Keeler (standing left)

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  McGraw (2nd from left, front row) with the 1896 Baltimore Orioles

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  McGraw discusses an issue with an umpire and two members of the Philadelphia Athletics at Columbia Park during the 1905 World Series

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  John McGraw greets fellow manager Jake Stahl at the 1912 World Series.

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  McGraw (left) with Buck Herzog and Mathewson, 1916

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  McGraw (right) with Babe Ruth

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  McGraw in 1924

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball managers by wins
• List of Major League Baseball player-managers
• List of St. Louis Cardinals team records