| Show Backseat Driving By Frank K Baker Telegram Sports Editor McGraw Steps Aside In Spectacular Style The mailed fist of ot John McGraw today today to day had ceased to over the baseball base basc ball destinies destines at nt the Polo grounds in New York and arid in its stead rose the thc youngest manager in the major majo leagues leagues Bill Bill Terry lerry from Memphis Memphis- who has promised the Giant pla players a chance to think for lor themselves Central figure in hundreds o of baseball baseball base base- ball sensations product of or the day days when fists and the ability to use them were necessary adjuncts to a players player's equipment McGraw at 59 has made his exit in a fashion even more spectacular spectacular spec spec- than an any of the exploits that tha made him so feared and respected 1 a rival As if his terse announcement that tha ill health made it advisable for him to relinquish his managerial duties fater 30 years was not enough he further fur fur- ther stunned official circles by nom nom- mating Terry as his successor For some years it had been understood understood under under- stood that he was grooming his first lieutenant e Da Bancroft for the task of ot carrying the Giants when McGraw 1 himself should elect to step out Memphis Bill Once Called Detriment Terr Terry on the other hand frequently frequent frequent- ly had annoyed club officials by his spring holdout activities Only this winter Charles A. A Stoneham Giants Giants' president called him a detriment to the club when Terr Terry balked at taking at 40 per cent slash in salary alar The Giants' Giants front office called Terr Terry Ter Ter- of chasIng chasing chas ehas ry r ungrateful and spoke ing him out of baseball unless he came to terms Yesterday they handed hand ed him the richest heritage in base base- ball He has made trouble about signIng sign sign- Ing lag every year since he was a n rookie rooie Stoneham said o of his future manager in January Januar Because of his holding out every spring he been a detriment detri ment to the club We tried to trade him last year and no one wanted him because of his high sala salary Now he will not be traded or sold So for being a detriment it is quite a distinction to have survived on the payroll long enough to riso rise to the managers manager's chair S But there are some sonic sound reasons rea rca sons wh why hy Terry has stuck with the club dub In spite spile of his annoying manners man man- ners neTs about salaries Terr Terry was wasa a fair fall hitter for the he Giants from the start in 1921 and omd in 1929 he be joined he front rank of sluggers with an m average of PIe lie led the league with JOI in 1930 and W was LS nosed out by br the narrowest of ot margins b by Chick of ot the Cardinals for the batting championship cham chain last year ear A sure fielder field er Cr a quick thinker a powerful Utter hitter and a fighter surely fighter surely the qualities that McGraw ad admired llred in ui a ball player McGraw Quits Team In Cellar Position Oddly enough McGraw leaves the Giants just where they were when he be first joined them them them-in in last place When he went to New York in 1902 he found the Giants in the cellar a hopelessly disorganized outfit Within With in two weeks he had cut the roster from 24 to 14 players When President President dent And Andrew rew Friedman remonstrated ed td that he was ruining the club McGraw Me Mc Graw tartly replied that he could finish finish fin fin- ish in last place just as easily with 14 players as as with 24 Within two years ears he developed de a team that in 30 years cars was to win for him ten National league pennants and nd three world series finish second ten times and wind up In the second division divi clivi zion lion only twice From his baseball start in the old Iron and Oil league of or New York state McGraw was a colorful player He was no slugger but he had the bunting art down to a fine point and kept pitchers in hot water with his intentional fouling an art he carried to the big league where it resulted In the passing of or the foul strike rule I specifying that a foul ouI shall be ruled a strike unless it il occurs on the third One of or his feats was 37 intentional intentional intentional in in- fouls off oU one pitcher before being retired He was a fighter who overlooked noth nothing n whether it was with an umpire um urn pire or an opposing player As an umpire baiter he was an al apt pupil who graduated with the Baltimore Orioles along with Willie Keeler Joe Kelle Kelley WIlbert Robinson Walter Brodie Bradie Brodie Bro Bro- die and Joe Carb Carbett tt the latter a 3 San Francisco product Fighter and iron ruler that he was he be still has long been endeared to the baseball world as the Little Nape Napa leon Bancroft Will Be Retained as Aide In supplanting McGra McGraws s military discipline with his more lenient program program pro pro- gram Terry proposes to let the team know Im I'm boss and will vill keep Bancroft Bancroft Ban Ban- croft as managerial assistant It will be interesting to note his progress s with a team that won only 17 of its first 40 games gaines this season Especially since that team comprised f z p I playing talent I which ch McGraw at the beginning of or the campaign thought was one of the best he ever man managed McGraws McGraw's parting gesture should warm the heart of an any successor Bill he said i If you ever need any help belp from me or want my ray advice just ask for it But you'll have bave to lo come for me rae because Im I'm not going to tr try to ten tell you how to run the team And that coming from rom a grizzled veteran vet eran cran who is sticking as vice president and a heavy henvy stockholder of or the club is mighty fine inc The burning question right now then is what Is-what what will Terry do with the Giants What sort of a B manager will this year old boy make Certainly the owners couldn't have handed him the club a worse and at the same time better moment They're in last place sure But that very fact makes it at easier o on Bill 1 |
