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amead17 · 11-06-2025, 11:32 AM

DIAMOND GREATS TAKE THEIR FINAL BOW

McGraw and Ryan Head List of Notable Retirements as a Generation Fades from the Game

By Samuel T. Kingsley and Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times
October 18th, 1908

As the long season of 1908 draws to its close, the diamond bids farewell to several of its most seasoned veterans. For some, the decision has been building for years; for others, it is simply the right time to step away from the grind of the game they have served so faithfully. Either way, the sport will feel their absence when the new season dawns next spring.

Foremost among the year’s retirees is John McGraw of the New York Highlanders, a man whose name has been synonymous with baseball for nearly two decades. McGraw entered the professional ranks in 1891, and across 1,499 games, he established himself as one of the cleverest and most combative players of his generation. His career closes with a .316 batting average, 13 home runs, 639 runs batted in, 1,145 runs scored, and 457 stolen bases — figures that speak to both his skill and tenacity on the field.

Though the past few seasons have seen him consigned mostly to the bench, McGraw’s influence in the game remains considerable. Having already managed the Highlanders from 1901 to 1904, many expect his next chapter to be in the dugout once again, where his sharp mind and fiery temperament may find new purpose.

“I’ve given the game nearly twenty years of my life,” McGraw said with a hint of nostalgia. “It’s been good to me, even when it’s been hard. My playing days are done, but I don’t think I can stay away from baseball for long. There’s always another challenge waiting — perhaps from the manager’s seat.”

Joining McGraw in retirement is Jimmy Ryan, one of the most durable and respected outfielders to ever grace the game. Ryan, who steps away at the remarkable age of 45, has been a fixture on the diamond since 1885, first with the Chicago Orphans and later with the Cleveland Naps and, most recently, the St. Louis Browns. Few would have expected his career to stretch beyond the turn of the century, yet Ryan defied age and expectation alike, continuing to compete with vigor well into his mid-forties.

Across an extraordinary 2,554 games, Ryan compiled a .295 average, 119 home runs, 1,280 RBI, 1,802 runs scored, and 463 stolen bases — a testament to his endurance and consistency over an era that saw the sport change in countless ways.

“It’s been a grand run,” Ryan remarked. “I’ve seen this game grow, and I’ve been lucky to grow with it. My legs aren’t what they were, and it’s time for the young fellows to carry it on. But I’ll always be proud of the years I gave to baseball.”

Beyond McGraw and Ryan, several other notable veterans have chosen to hang up their spikes. Among them are Jack Doyle, Lou Criger, Gene DeMontreville, Buck Freeman, Kid Carsey, Frank Kitson, and Deacon Phillippe — all players who, in their own ways, helped shape the modern era of the game.

Together, these men represent a generation that bridged baseball’s early rough-and-tumble years with the polished professional age we see today. Their departures mark not merely the end of long careers, but the close of a chapter in baseball’s great and growing story — one that future players will strive to honor as they take their place on the field.

11-06-2025, 11:32 AM	#337
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,147	Player Retirements DIAMOND GREATS TAKE THEIR FINAL BOW McGraw and Ryan Head List of Notable Retirements as a Generation Fades from the Game By Samuel T. Kingsley and Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times October 18th, 1908 As the long season of 1908 draws to its close, the diamond bids farewell to several of its most seasoned veterans. For some, the decision has been building for years; for others, it is simply the right time to step away from the grind of the game they have served so faithfully. Either way, the sport will feel their absence when the new season dawns next spring. Foremost among the year’s retirees is John McGraw of the New York Highlanders, a man whose name has been synonymous with baseball for nearly two decades. McGraw entered the professional ranks in 1891, and across 1,499 games, he established himself as one of the cleverest and most combative players of his generation. His career closes with a .316 batting average, 13 home runs, 639 runs batted in, 1,145 runs scored, and 457 stolen bases — figures that speak to both his skill and tenacity on the field. Though the past few seasons have seen him consigned mostly to the bench, McGraw’s influence in the game remains considerable. Having already managed the Highlanders from 1901 to 1904, many expect his next chapter to be in the dugout once again, where his sharp mind and fiery temperament may find new purpose. “I’ve given the game nearly twenty years of my life,” McGraw said with a hint of nostalgia. “It’s been good to me, even when it’s been hard. My playing days are done, but I don’t think I can stay away from baseball for long. There’s always another challenge waiting — perhaps from the manager’s seat.” Joining McGraw in retirement is Jimmy Ryan, one of the most durable and respected outfielders to ever grace the game. Ryan, who steps away at the remarkable age of 45, has been a fixture on the diamond since 1885, first with the Chicago Orphans and later with the Cleveland Naps and, most recently, the St. Louis Browns. Few would have expected his career to stretch beyond the turn of the century, yet Ryan defied age and expectation alike, continuing to compete with vigor well into his mid-forties. Across an extraordinary 2,554 games, Ryan compiled a .295 average, 119 home runs, 1,280 RBI, 1,802 runs scored, and 463 stolen bases — a testament to his endurance and consistency over an era that saw the sport change in countless ways. “It’s been a grand run,” Ryan remarked. “I’ve seen this game grow, and I’ve been lucky to grow with it. My legs aren’t what they were, and it’s time for the young fellows to carry it on. But I’ll always be proud of the years I gave to baseball.” Beyond McGraw and Ryan, several other notable veterans have chosen to hang up their spikes. Among them are Jack Doyle, Lou Criger, Gene DeMontreville, Buck Freeman, Kid Carsey, Frank Kitson, and Deacon Phillippe — all players who, in their own ways, helped shape the modern era of the game. Together, these men represent a generation that bridged baseball’s early rough-and-tumble years with the polished professional age we see today. Their departures mark not merely the end of long careers, but the close of a chapter in baseball’s great and growing story — one that future players will strive to honor as they take their place on the field.