John McGraw became manager of the New York Giants on July 16, 1902, and he remained the baseball team’s dugout boss until 1932.
It was the second-longest managerial stint with one team in MLB history. Who had the longest? Connie Mack, with the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-50. (Mack managed his last game at age 87).
McGraw guided the Giants to a trio of World Series titles in 1905, 1921 and ’22. New York also had six losing World Series appearances under McGraw (1911, 1912, 1913, 1917, 1923 and ’24). The Giants also won the National League pennant in 1904, but the World Series wasn’t held that year due to a lack of a formal deal in place, even though the American League and National League winners squared off for the first time in 1903.
At the ballpark, McGraw was a highly capable leader. As the National Baseball Hall of Fame website noted in a short profile of McGraw, aka “Little Napoleon”: “(He) tirelessly developed players in the way he felt the game should be played. He also translated his aggressive tactics as a ball player to his managerial style, frequently calling for pinch-runners and encouraging his players to steal as many bases as possible.”
McGraw was an astute observer of the players who suited up for the Giants throughout his long tenure. He paid attention to their strengths and weaknesses and quirks.
“Learn to know every man under you, get under his skin, know his faults,” McGraw once said. “Then cater to him — with kindness or roughness as his case may demand.”
McGraw, a player-manager with the Baltimore Orioles before moving on to the New York Giants, also demanded absolute authority as the Giants skipper.
In his own words, “With my team I am an absolute czar. My men know it. I order plays and they obey. If the don’t, I fine them.”
More than 90 years after his final game as manager of the Giants, John McGraw is still one of MLB’s winningest managers. He is third on the all-time list (2,763 wins), trailing only Tony La Russa (2,902) and Mack (3,763).
Ed Odeven Reporting 