MCGRAW, JOHN (JOSEPH)

born April 7, 1873, Truxton, N.Y., U.S. died Feb. 25, 1934, New Rochelle, N.Y. byname Little Napoleon professional U.S. baseball player and manager who led New York Giant teams to 10 National League championships, noted for his shrewdness and veneer of harshness. During the 1890s McGraw was a star infielder for the Baltimore National League club. His .391 mark of 1899 remains the highest batting average attained by any major league third baseman. In 1901 McGraw was appointed manager of the Baltimore club in the new American League. On July 19, 1902, he returned to the National League as manager of the New York team. Until his retirement in June 1932 the Giants were generally the most feared team in the league. They won league championships in 1904, 1905, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1917, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, taking World Series titles in 1905, 1921, and 1922. In his 33 years of managing, McGraw's teams won 2,840 games, a total exceeded only by that of one other manager, Connie Mack.