John McGraw Quotes & Sayings

Sportsmanship and easygoing methods are all right, but it is the prospect of a hot fight that brings out the crowds. — John McGraw

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. — John McGraw

Get in front of the ball, you won't get hurt. That's what you've got a chest for, young man. — John McGraw

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. — John McGraw

You think the greatest thing in the whole world would be to become a baseball player - if best things already happened, what's next? — John McGraw

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. — John McGraw

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. — John McGraw

The way to get a ball past (Honus) Wagner is to hit it eight feet over his head. — John McGraw

One percent of ballplayers are leaders of men. The other 99 percent are followers of women. — John McGraw

The team that gets off to a good start wins pennants. — John McGraw

There is but one game and that game is baseball. — John McGraw

My boy, one small breeze doesn't make a wind storm. — John McGraw

He (Honus Wagner) was the nearest thing to a perfect player no matter where his manager chose to play him. — John McGraw

(Bill) Terry, you can ask for more money in the winter and do less in the summer than any ballplayer I know. — John McGraw

I name (Honus) Wagner first on my list, not only because he was a great batting champion and base-runner, and also baseball's foremost shortstop, but because Honus (Wagner) could have been first at any other position, with the possible exception of pitcher. In all my career, I never saw such a versatile player. — John McGraw

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. — John McGraw

Why shouldn't we pitch to Babe Ruth? We pitch to better hitters in the National League. — John McGraw

The boy's (Hack Wilson) got talent and desire, but he ain't got no neck. — John McGraw

I think we can win it if my brain holds out. — John McGraw

The main thing is to win. — John McGraw

If I had to pick the greatest team player in baseball today-and I have some of the greats on my own club-I would have to pick Pie Traynor. — John McGraw