The Main Idea is to Always Win
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by Harold Friend
user LouGehrig
New York Giants manager John McGraw would do anything to beat you. He has been referred to as a "little Napoleon," his Hall of Flame plaque refers to him as "...the fiery third baseman of the Baltimore Orioles," and states that he was "...an innovative, autocratic field manager." As a player, McGraw helped to develop the hit and run, the Baltimore chop, and the squeeze play. Opponents knew that McGraw would block, trip, or do whatever he could get away with to block baserunners while the umpire watched the ball. Yes, THE umpire. There was only one umpire and some claim that McGraw's gamesmanship led to having basepath umpires added to the game. His philosophy was simple: "The main idea is to always win."
McGraw was arrogant, pugnacious, and abrasive. He abused his opponents verbally and he wasn't above physical confrontations, despite his height of 5'9" and weight of 160lbs. But his players accepted his tyranny. Why? Because most viewed it as the price of winning and to a winner, almost no price is too high for victory.
After the Giants beat Connie Mack's Athletics in the 1905 World Series, McGraw saw to it that his Giants' 1906 uniforms had "Champions of the World" emblazoned across the front. The Giants became the most despised team in baseball and often dodged rocks and baseballs as they left enemy ball parks. McGraw loved to incite crowds as he battled the opposition, umpires, team owners, and league officials. But he gave credit where credit was due.
After the Yankees beat his Giants in the six game 1923 World Series, McGraw, who was going for an unprecedented third consecutive World Championship, lavised praise on his team's conquerers while defending his own players.
"The best team won, there is no disputing that. The Yankees sure put a great ball club on the field this year. You can't take a thing away from them. No body should have any desire to detract from their victory. I know I haven't. They're a good bunch of ballplayers. They showed that to everybody's satisfaction in this series. I'm disappointed that the Giants didn't win. Everybody loves to win. But my disappointment cannot shut out the realization that the Yankees were better than the Giants. After seeing the two teams in action, nobody can deny that. I'm going to shake hands with everybody connected with the Yankees from Colonel Ruppert down to the bat boy. They played a great game against a good team, and nobody should begrudge them their victory. My hat's off to them."
John McGraw was the ultimate competitor. He gave no quarter nor did he want any. His brief speech after losing the World Series is an excellent example of an individual competing as hard as possible during the game yet acting in a gentlemanly manner once the contest ends. There is nothing wrong and everything right in the way McGraw approached the game. After all, only losers can question McGraw when he so eloquently stated the main idea of the game. It is to always win.
References:
http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/McGraw_John.stm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcgrajo02.shtml
"'Best Team Won,' McGraw Declares; Praises Work of Bob Meusel, Dugan and Ward and Huggins' Pitching Staff. Also Lauds Own Players." New York Times, 16 October, 1923, p.15.
Date
Tue 07/18/06, 7:47 am EST
