John McGraw T205 Tobacco Reprint Baseball Card with Gold Borders

In 1902, New York quickly churned through two managers, both of whom considered shifting emerging star pitcher Christy Mathewson to another position. Owner Andrew Freedman managed to snag the aggressive McGraw away from the fledging American League's Baltimore Orioles and signed him as player-manager of the Giants in mid-season.

Later in the season, Mr.Brush assumed controlling interest of the team and gave McGraw the freedom and money to run the team as he wished. He lured many top players to the club and nurtured the Hall of Fame career of Mathewson, and two years later, the Giants would be back on top of the National League. John would lead the Giants for the next 29 years,winning 10 pennants and three world titles and recording 21 finishes of second or better.

Upon assuming the reins of the Giants, McGraw came up with an innovative solution for the problem of what to do with Luther "Dummy" Taylor, the only deaf-mute person to play in the Majors in the 20th century. McGraw made his entire team learn sign language so they could communicate with him, and when they started using the skill in games, it became the earliest form of "signs" in baseball. Taylor won 21 games for the 1904 pennant-winning club.

"Remember this, son. One percent of ballplayers are leaders of men. The other ninety-nine percent are followers of women." - Hall of Fame Manager J. McGraw