John J. McGraw Monument in Truxton, New York
There are in Truxton, New York, three interrelated sites associated with legendary baseball manager John J. McGraw, who was born in that Central New York town in 1873. The three are a monument to the native son, a baseball field named in his honor, and a sign memorializing the game played at John J. McGraw Field that funded the carving and installation of the memorial to McGraw. McGraw’s father,…
In Truxton, New York, three interconnected sites relate to the life of John J. McGraw, a renowned baseball manager. The sites include a monument dedicated to him, a baseball field named after him, and a sign honoring a game played at the field which raised funds for the monument. McGraw's father, also John, migrated to the United States from Ireland in 1856.
Over the next 15 years, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, married Ellen Comerfort, and had seven children, with John McGraw being the eldest. McGraw's early childhood was challenging as the family of ten struggled financially. At the age of 12, the family suffered a devastating blow when his mother and four siblings died from diphtheria.
His father's trauma following the loss left him physically abusive towards his son. Eventually, young McGraw ran away and was taken in by a neighbor and her two sons. Baseball was always a passion for McGraw, and he worked odd jobs like selling candy and magazines to afford sports equipment. He made his debut in minor league baseball at 16 and went on to play for the Baltimore Orioles, the Cardinals, and the Giants.
McGraw became the full-time skipper of the Giants in 1908 and had a lifetime batting average of .334, one of the highest in history. He is best known for his managerial skills and innovations, including the popularization of the hit-and-run play. Four years after his death, a monument was erected in Truxton to honor the local hero who never returned to his hometown after moving to Olean for baseball.
The monument's inscription records that an exhibition game between the New York Giants and a Truxton team, held in 1938, helped fund the monument. The ballpark where the game took place still hosts amateur sports and events today.
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