A biography for John McGrawhasn’t been written yet.
“The team that gets off to a good start wins pennants.”
“No club that wins a pennant once is an outstanding club. One which bunches two pennants is a good club. But a team which can win three in a row really achieves greatness.”
“Learn to know every man under you, get under his skin, know his faults. Then cater to him - with kindness or roughness as his case may demand.”
“There is but one game and that game is baseball.”
“I think we can win it if my brain holds out.”
“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.”
“In playing or managing, the game of ball is only fun for me when I'm out in front and winning. I don't give a hill of beans for the rest of the game.”
“Sportsmanship and easygoing methods are all right, but it is the prospect of a hot fight that brings out the crowds.”
“My boy, one small breeze doesn't make a wind storm.”
“Why shouldn't we pitch to Babe Ruth? We pitch to better hitters in the National League.”
“Cobb would have to play center field on my all time team. But where would that put Speaker? In left. If I had them both, I would certainly play them that way.”