When the Giants Were Giants: Bill Terry and the Golden Age of New York Baseball

by Peter Williams, W.P. Kinsella

This is the story of a forgotten Giant--the man Baseball Magazine called in 1930 "baseball's greatest first baseman"--Bill Terry. Brought up from proverty and the obscurity of semipro ball in the South by the famed "Little Napoleon," manager John McGraw of the Giants, Terry developed into the team's key player in the 1920s. As America battled the Depression, the no-nonsense Terry replaced McGraw as manager of the Giants and led the team to three pennants and a world championship. In When the Giants Were Giants, author Peter Williams looks at the end of an era--a time before television, night baseball, player strikes, or free agents--through the lense of this Hall-of-Famer's career as a player and coach. Exclusive interviews with Bill Terry and other players bring to life the rich and color tapestry of Golden Age baseball when the big New York baseball teams were the biggest names in sports.

Genres: Baseball, Sports

352 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a book about the 1920s-1930s Giants but a biography of Bill Terry.

[Craig McGraw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much history on the Giants more of a. biography ofBill Terry. Not bad

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of us who remember the New York Giants and the Polo Grounds this book fills in an important space in their history, the years when Bill Terry ran the team. Terry was a hated man for
a flash of wit he had before the 1934 season started. It made him reviled in Brooklyn.

Bill Terry (1898-1989) was born in Atlanta, but grew up in Memphis and started as a pitcher, but
became a first baseman. He was spotted by John McGraw and signed with the Giants. At first he
shared first base with another good first baseman George Kelly. But soon enough Terry was the
only Giant first baseman. Terry came up in time to play in the last World Series under McGraw in
1924.

His career year was 1930 when Terry batted .401 the last National League player to hit .400. By 1932
Terry succeeded McGraw as manager midseason. He still played first base through 1936.

That first full season as manager was Terry's best. He won the pennant and then topped the
Washington Senators in five games in the World Series. His Giant teams contained two other Hall
of Famers, Mel Ott and Carl Hubbell.

In 1934 Terry was doing a newspaper interview about the National League pennant race and at one
point was asked about the perennial second division Brooklyn Dodgers at that time. Terry simply
said "is Brooklyn still in the league?" That remark got him boos like no other opposition player at
Ebbets Field. And the Dodgers on the last day of the 1934 season beat the Giants and caused them
to lose the pennant to the St.Louis Cardinals.

Terry won two more pennants in 1936 and 1937, but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees.
The team McGraw and Terry built and ran got older and Terry was out as manager after 1941.

The picture we get of Terry is a responsible man, a family man. He had a good second income from
a job with Standard Oil when he was younger. He was a serious man and a serious player. Maybe
if he hadn't gone in for wit, good as his crack was he'd have been more popular.

Terry's bat and glove did his talking and spoke well. A lifetime batting average of .341 and being a
.400 hitter will get your ticket punched for Cooperstown.

Nice to see Bill Terry get his due in this book.

[Robert Morrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Terry's achievements on the diamond speak for themselves; only his curious relationship with the press forced him to wait longer than he should have for the Hall of Fame. Even more curious is that the last man to bat .400 in the National League has been all but forgotten by the public. Peter Williams is a sharp and insightful writer who makes a strong argument that Terry deserves a more prominent spot in our memories, as a player, manager and model of integrity. Williams also does a fine job placing his career in the context of baseball and (to some degree) social history.