Sporting a tall stovepipe hat and a magnificent handlebar mustache, Mutrie arrived
in New York in 1880 determined to create a great baseball team. By 1883, with the
backing of John B. Day, he was able to gain admission to the American Association
for the New York Metropolitans with himself as manager. At the same time, he organized
a National League New York team. After the Metropolitans won the AA pennant in 1884,
Mutrie became manager of the NL team, taking several Metropolitan players with him.
He built the NL team into a powerhouse by adding such stars as future Hall of Famers
Buck Ewing, Tim Keefe, and Mickey Welch. The team was unusually tall, and Mutrie's
repeated references to "his giants" evolved into the accepted name for the team.
The Giants won NL pennants in 1888 and 1889. Defections to the Players' League in
1890 depleted the team, and after 1891 Mutrie was forced out as manager.
(BC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 8th, 1880: The Polo Grounds in New York at 110th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is leased by the new Metropolitan club being assembled by Jim Mutrie with the backing of John B. Day. The grounds, which have been used for polo matches, will be converted into the first commercial baseball park ever to be built on Manhattan Island.
»October 4th, 1889: Both contenders win again, setting up the final day with New York in front of Boston by percentage points .656 to .654. Each team has the option of playing one or two games tomorrow, so NY manager Jim Mutrie is in Pittsburgh to watch the Boston game. He is ready to wire to Cleveland if the Beaneaters are going to play an extra game, so that the Giants can also play one.
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