John McGraw calls 1927 Yankees 'not a smart club'

Sterling Daily Gazette - Sterling, Illinois - September 28th 1927

YANKS DEPEND ON HITTING AND LACK SMARTNESS

Jack Dempsey's only chance in the Tunney fight depended on the old sock and as a matter of official record it failed him.

Everyone knew that Dempsey could hit harder than Tunney and it was as generally agreed that Tunney was a better boxer and a smarter strategist than Dempsey. And in this particular instance the brain proved better than the blow.

The same logic that brains are better than might without brains is being applied to the dope on the coming world's series between the New York Yankees and the National League pennant winners.

The hitting power of the Yankees is recognized and respected in the National League but the brain power of the club is being disputed.

John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants, has gone on public record with the opinion that the Yankees are not a smart ball club and that they depend entirely upon the old sock. McGraw hasn't expressed any opinion about the coming series but he, as well as some other National League managers is said to believe that the Pittsburgh Pirates, the St. Louis Cardinals, or the Giants could beat the American League champions.

Only weeks later, the 1927 Yankees destroyed the Pittsburgh Pirates in four straight to become champions. The 1927 Yankees were considered to this day one of the greatest teams ever.