McGraw, John (1873-1934), was one of the greatest managers in baseball history. As manager of the New York Giants of the National League, McGraw’s teams finished first or second 21 times. They won 10 pennants and 3 World Series. McGraw ranks third only to Connie Mack and Tony LaRussa among major league baseball managers in career victories (2,763). McGraw was a short man with an aggressive, often abusive personality that earned him the nickname “Little Napoleon.”
John Joseph McGraw was born on April 7, 1873, in Truxton, New York. Before becoming a manager, he was a star player. McGraw played major league baseball from 1891 to 1906, primarily as a third baseman. He had a lifetime batting average of .334. He hit .391 in 1899, a record for major league third basemen.
McGraw began his career as a manager with Baltimore in 1899, but he achieved his greatest success with the New York Giants. McGraw began with the Giants partway through the 1902 season. He then managed the team for 29 seasons before he retired during the 1932 season. McGraw returned to baseball to manage the National League in the first All-Star game in 1933. McGraw died on Feb. 25, 1934. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.
