The McGraw Mausoleum

John McGraw, Baseball Hall of Fame player and manager, resting here. . . .

New Cathedral Cemetery, a sprawling, hilly burial ground on the southwestern side of Baltimore, has the distinction of being the final resting place of four Hall of Fame baseball players. This photo, taken in early spring, is of the mausoleum containing the remains of John McGraw, who played for the old Baltimore Orioles in the late 19th Century — he led the National League in runs twice and originated the the Baltimore chop — and he managed the New York Giants for more than 30 years in the early 20th Century. His Giants won 10 National League pennants and three World Series championships. I have not been back to see if the McGraw mausoleum has been cleaned up. (A photograph of the structure from the past shows that it was well-kept and decorated with wreathes.) It also strikes me that a placque of some kind, describing the mausoleum’s distinguished guest, would be appropriate. As we used to tell our editors: More to come . . .