Often forgotten in this story is National League President Harry Pulliam. McGraw issued a protest, and if Pulliam had ruled in favor of McGraw, the whole thing might have been long forgotten by now. Pulliam and McGraw had a rocky relationship, due to McGraw’s history of kicking and bullying, so perhaps that influenced Pulliam’s decision, but I don’t really think so. Pulliam felt it necessary to always back his umpires for the good of the game, and to prevent them from quitting their thankless jobs. Some think this played a role in Pulliam’s suicide less than a year later.
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