Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1911 — NERVE TO SPIKE M’GRAW [ARTICLE]

NERVE TO SPIKE M’GRAW

Dick Harley's Treatment of Giant Manager One of Big Events In Baseball History. Dick Harley, old Cincinnati, Chicago and Detroit outfielder, living in Philadelphia, was the only player who ever had the nerve to spike Muggsy McGraw when McGraw played third base for Baltimore, and his treatment of the future Giant manager is one of the big events in baseball history as ball players remember it. Players wore long, sharp spikes nine years ago. Basemen were cut and runners tripped in every game. Of the .rough players McGraw was the roughest, and all feared to try to get even with him. In a game between Baltimore and Detroit, McGraw got after Ducky Holmes, the Detroit outfielder. "How do you expect to play ball? Your whole family died of consumption and you’re full of it,” said McGraw. Harley roomed with Holmes, and when he went to his hotel room after the game he found Ducky crying. “You leave McGraw to me," said Harley. Next day Harley slid into third base and cut a big gash in McGraw’s leg. After that Harley was the most respected base runner in the league. Basemen always gave him at least half the bag when he slid, and most of them gave him all the room he wanted.