McGraw of the Giants; An Informal Biography

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1944. Eighth Impression [stated]. Hardcover. Good. vi, 265, [1] pages. Frontis illustration. Illustrations. Cover is worn and soiled. Some endpaper discoloration. Edges somewhat worn and corners a bit bumped. Contents include The Boy from Truxton; Baltimore and the Orioles, Arrival in New York, The Greatest Team, The Pace is Slower, The Merkle Plan, Bresnahan for Bugs Raymond, In Rags and Tatters, In Defense of Snodgrass, Around the World, The Federal League, A Most Remarkable Year, A Kid Named Youngs, The "Great Reputation", A Halt Is Called, Part Owner of the Giants, The Name of "Muggsy", The Race Track in Havana, Year of Trouble, The Brightest Era Opens, A Crowded Year, Three Pennants in a Row, The Dolan-O'Connell case, Ott Arrives and Matty Dies, "Follow Me in Real Estate", New Captain of the Giants, A Guy Named Hubbell, Hogan at the Table, A Visit to the Doctor, Justice McCook Hears a Case, Bright Days in California, A Revolt is Checked, A Reporter Gets a Beat, and End of the Long Road. Frank Graham Sr. (November 12, 1893 - March 9, 1965) was an American sportswriter and biographer. He was a successful author, writing biographies of Al Smith and Lou Gehrig and John McGraw. He also wrote critically acclaimed team histories of the New York Yankees, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers that remained in print more than 50 years later. Graham was posthumously honored by the Baseball Writers' Association of America with the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1971, and by the Boxing Writers Association of America with the A. J. Liebling Award in 1997, the highest award bestowed by each organization. John Joseph McGraw (April 7, 1873 - February 25, 1934) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager who was for almost thirty years manager of the New York Giants. He was also the third baseman of the pennant-winning 1890s Baltimore Orioles teams, noted for their innovative, aggressive play. McGraw had a quick rise through the minor leagues that led him to the Orioles at the age of 18. Under the tutelage of manager Ned Hanlon, the Orioles of the 1890s won three National League (NL) pennants; McGraw was one of the stalwarts of the team alongside Wee Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings, and Wilbert Robinson. The Orioles perfected the hit and run play and popularized the Baltimore chop; they also sought to win by intimidating the opposing team and the umpire. The instability in MLB at the turn of the 20th century led to McGraw becoming manager of the Orioles at age 26 in 1899, and he was lauded for his leadership. The National League Orioles were dissolved after 1899, and McGraw spent one season with the St. Louis Cardinals before returning to Baltimore as player/manager of the new Orioles of the American League (AL). He quarreled with AL president Ban Johnson and jumped to the Giants in 1902, taking several Orioles players with him. Through his just-short of thirty years managing the Giants, McGraw exerted control on players and team, and saw great success, winning ten pennants (matched only by Casey Stengel, who played for and learned from him) and three World Series. His 2,763 victories as an MLB manager ranks third overall behind only Connie Mack and Tony La Russa; he holds the NL record with 31 seasons managed. McGraw is widely held to be one of the greatest managers in baseball history. He retired, ill, in 1932 and died less than two years later after making a final appearance in 1933 as NL manager in the first All-Star Game.