Following an all-night drinking bout and a fight at the Lamb’s Club in New York, John McGraw will be indicted for violating the Volstead (Prohibition) Act and charged with assault, but he will be acquitted. He will also be called to testify in Chicago hearings investigating gambling and bribery among players, including Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman.
1919 – Christy Mathewson, back from the World War I, rejoins the New York Giants as pitching coach and heir apparent to John McGraw.
National League chief John Heydler dismisses charges against Cincinnati Reds star Hal Chase
On January 14, 1919, a trio, led by Wall Street tycoon Charles A. Stoneham, buys the New York Giants. The other investors include manager John McGraw and politician Francis X. McQuade of New York. Stoneham rose from a job as a runner on Wall Street, to the president of a huge investment firm to make…
1919 – John McGraw, Charles A. Stoneham, and Tammany Hall politician Judge Francis X. McQuade buy controlling interest in the New York Giants from the John Brush estate. Having drawn just 265,000 fans in 1918, the club is sold at a bargain price. The three will spend many days in courtrooms fighting among themselves, and fending off government charges about Stoneham’s business practices.
Clarence “Pants” Rowland goes over the ground rules at Comiskey Park with Giants Manager John McGraw and the umpires before the first game of the 1917 World Series, October 6, 1917.. Eddie Cicotte beats Slim Sallee 2-1, Fred McMullin drove in Chicago’s first run, and Happy Felsch’s homer made it 2–0. Giants pitcher…
At the Polo Grounds, Slim Sallee tops the Cards, 2 – 1, and clinches the National League pennant for the Giants, their 6th under John McGraw. The New Yorkers manage just four hits (and six walks) off Bill Doak, but they come when needed.
The Braves and Giants play an A.M.-P.M. twin bill in Boston on Labor Day. To accommodate the crowds, the Braves have moved their home games to Fenway Park, courtesy of owner Joe Lannin: Fenway has triple the seating capacity of the South End Grounds. The two contests draw 74,163 on the day. The Braves, down 4 – 3 to Christy Mathewson in the 9th, storm back for two runs to win the opener. Josh Devore scratches a single, Herb Moran doubles into the crowd ringing the outfield, and Johnny Evers slaps a single that eludes George Burns to drive home the tying and winning runs. Jeff Tesreau wins the nitecap, 10 – 1, and the Giants pile on Lefty Tyler. In the Giants’ 4-run 6th, Fred Snodgrasstakes a pitch on the sleeve to reach first base, thumbing his nose at Tyler along the way. Lefty retaliates by acting out Fred’s 1912 World Series muff. When Snodgrass returns to CF, the crowd is merciless to the point that Boston Mayor James Michael Curley rushes on the field and demands the umpires eject the Giant player. McGraw, worried that Snodgrass might incur an injury, replaces him.
Ed Reulbach pitches Brooklyn to a 2 – 0 whitewash of the Giants‚ allowing just 2 hits. Christy Mathewson takes the loss‚ his 9th of the year. John McGraw‚ frustrated with his team’s lack of hitting‚ loses an argument with umpire Mal Eason and is tossed.
With manager John McGraw in the grandstand, the Giants win their 11th straight, beating Brooklyn, 3 – 2. Christy Mathewson is the winner over Pat Ragan, scattering 12 hits but walking none. His walkless streak is at 47 innings.
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