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Misunderestimated (Brian H.)Just to be clear the Mack as manager ratings are rather difficult (as that quotation above shows) since he was for many years the teams owner-operator. The other great managers discussed above (including McGraw!) did not have the same stake Mack did in his team (especially by the end).
Also, besides McGraw and the other earlier managers Mack was also the GM. This means that he can be held accountable for putting together his second dynasty -- he paid big $$ for Lajoie and Lefty Grove but cheaped out on Walter Johnson -- in a way Stengel, McCarthy and managers today cannot. They played with the hand that was dealt them for the most part although they often were involved in trades. Today with GMs and free agency -- even the most powerful managers have far less authority that almost of all of the managers of the early 20th century.
As to the Reprint issue, I tend to agree with Zach.... These scans might help but the real giveaway should be on the back. Fritsch's (?) Reprints say so in the lower left hand corner in white and the blue backs are much darker.
