McGraw, John

McGraw, John (Joseph)

(1873–1934) baseball player/manager; born in Truxton, N.Y. During a 16-year career as a third baseman (1891–1906), mostly with the famous Baltimore Orioles of the 1890s, he compiled a lifetime batting average of .334; but it is as one of baseball's greatest managers that he is best remembered. After managing Baltimore for three years, he was manager of the New York Giants for 31 years (1902–32), winning ten league pennants, three world championships, and more major league games (2,840) than any manager except Connie Mack. Nicknamed "the Little Napoleon," he was a stern taskmaster and a brilliant discoverer of baseball talent. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1937.