Spring Training, 1912 Style in Marlin, Texas!

“If we do win the flag this year, much of the credit will go to Marlin, Texas – John McGraw

Well…the Giants did win the pennant in 1912, and so we can assume McGraw gave credit to his favorite spring training location, Marlin Texas.

And with spring training finally starting to heat up this year, here’s a repost of a neat photo, originally found by my Old-Time Baseball Photos partner, Ron Bolton, from the 1912 Giants spring training camp. 

After a little sleuthing, we were able to determine it was from Emerson Park in Marlin, Texas where the Giants held spring training from 1908-1918. Besides McGraw, we identified Heine Groh (to the right of McGraw), probably minor leaguer Gus Gardella holding the bat, coach Arlie Latham in the middle, and Jeff Tesseau without the cap. Not sure who the player on the far right is. Check out the dilapidated conditions of the field. Not exactly up to 2020 standards! See below)

Marlin hosted five different teams over the period of 1904-1923. The Giants’ operation at Emerson Park is generally credited with being the first “permanent” major league spring training facility.

Marlin is located 100 miles northeast of Austin and 100 miles south of Dallas (with a 2019 population of 5.967). Over their eleven spring camps in Marlin, the Giants became a big part of the community. They played numerous benefit games for local groups and charities and even played against the Marlin High School team. While holding team practice in Marlin during the week, the Giants took trains to other cities for weekend “split squad” games.

The city of Marlin fell in love with the Giants in a big way, grateful that the Giants had put their tiny city on the map. As a token of their appreciation, the citizens had deeded the Emerson practice field to the team. In addition, they held a special Fish Fry in the Giants’ honor at the Marlin Falls before the team headed north; and they also held a yearly “Thank You Ball” at the Arlington Hotel (where the team resided) each spring before the Giants left town (see below).

Here’s some more interesting information about the Giants in Marlin, Texas. It’s from an article in “Sports Day” by columnist Kevin Sherrington:

“Marlin fulfilled the desires of Giants manager John McGraw, who wanted a place where the world’s greatest baseball team could train without getting in trouble.  The team holed up in the Arlington, one of three hotels serving a town noted for its healing waters. Christy Mathewson would set up on the front porch of the Arlington for the duration, taking on all comers in checkers.”

“The team practiced twice a day at Emerson Park, a mile from the hotel. The players walked the train tracks both ways. Between workouts, they took advantage of the hot baths and found entertainment where they could. Occasionally, they might go stir-crazy. One player attacked a Giants coach unprovoked, biting him on the cheek.  Rube Marquard once fired a pistol from his hotel room out of boredom. When authorities responded, McGraw threatened to take his team and never come back. No charges were filed.”

“Marlin loved its big-league team, and McGraw loved it back. The Giants became part of the town’s life cycle. ‘I still stick to my assertions,’ McGraw told a local newspaper in 1912, ‘that Marlin with its famous water is the finest place on earth for a ball team.’

Alas, the marriage didn’t last. Baseball broke it up after World War I with travel restrictions. When the Giants returned to Texas in 1920, they jilted Marlin for San Antonio, a popular baseball destination three hours south.

Gary Livacari 

Photo Source -Featured photo from  Higgins and Scott Auctions; Others from public domain

Information: Excerpts edited from article in “Sports Day’” by Kevin Sherrington