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Posted By: Pcelli60

Well, right off the bat Mathewson won 20 games in 01' without McGraw and despite the meddling of then Giants owner Andrew Freedman. Amid Matty's early success Freedman was convinced that he could make a good first baseman out of him. Others involved with the team actually envisioned him as an outfielder and even a shortstop!
This was still going on when McGraw entered the scene in the summer of 02'. He immediately put an end to all this nonsense. It could be speculated that that alone could have done wonders for a young Matty's confidence.In was in fact, the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Obviously McGraw cant be given credit for Matty's raw ability. But the two are attached at the hip by history. McGraw's eye for talent was needed at that critical moment in Mathewson's career. Matty could have be a twenty game winner even with the worse teams of that era. But it was McGraw's Giants that made him famous..