The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-09-19
BEST BATTER In
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CLOSE RACE BETWEEN DoNLIN
AND WAGNER FOR TITLE
OF CHAMPION.
"HANS" SLIGHTLY In THE LEAD
Record of the Two Men Since Their
Entry Into Fast Company-Non-
derfuI Performance of Pittsburg
Man Since Joining CIub-New
York Captain in Game IL Years.

The contest for the batting suprem-
acy of the year in the National league
between John Henry Wagner, or
Hans, or ''Horus" Wagner, as the
great shortstop of the Pittsburg club
is Familiarity called, and Michael Don
lin, captain and right fielder of the
New York team, equals in intensity
the interest that is being taken in the
outcome of the battle that is being
waged for the championships of the
National and American leagues. Thus
far Wagner leads the left-handed cap
tain of the Giants by about IA points,
the percentages a couple of days ago
being: Wagner, .335; Donlin, 321.
The latter. however, has been batting
quite consistently. and there are many
experts who believe he will land
ahead of the formidable Pittsburger
at the close of the season
Wagner has made a wonderful
record since he joined the Pittsburg
club in 1900. In that year he led the
National league, and was also the first
batsman in 1908, 1904. 1906 and 1907.
From the time he played his first pro-
fessional engagement with the
Stuebenville (O) club in 1895 he was
regarded as formidable batsman.
The following year he joined the
Paterson On. ID club of the Atlantic
league and remained there until July
of 1897, when the Louisville manage
luent outbid that of Pittsburg and Sc
cured the boy from Carnegie, Pa.
Wagner remained with the Louisville
club until the close of the season of
1899. when he became a member of
the Pittsburgs along with other Louis
vile stars when the National league
was reduced TO eight clubs. In his
two years and a half with the Ken
lucky team Wagner never failed to get
behind the 800 mark in batting, nor
has he fallen below those figures in
his eight and half years connection
with the Pittsburg team. On July 23
last Wagner made his hundredth hit
of the season. Donlin being the first to
score that record on July 13, and Cobb
of the Detroit team of the American
league the second on July Is.
Mike Donlin's reputation as a bats
man since he joined the National
team in 1899 has been of high order
While being somewhat fractions and
not amenable to discipline during his
Career with the Cincinnati club, and
at times while with the Giants. his
department and playing ability have
been vastly improved since Manager
McGraw placed him as field com
mander of the Polo Grounds team al
the beginning of the present season.
Donlin began hlS professional career
as a pitcher of the team at Los An
geles, Cal, in 1896. He had officiate6
in 10 games and lost only two. As q
hatsman he was pre-eminent, leading
the California league that year with
an average of .421. Three years latel
he started his career in major league
company with the St Louis team, ani
remained with that team for two sea
sons, the first year finishing with {
batting average of 1927 and the SECOND
year he batted for 800. In 1901 JOIN
McGraw signed Donlin to play will
his Baltimore team of the American
league, Mikes batting being one o
the features of the season, his average
lCdCHihS tuS SpiChulu VI ofO
The following year Joe Kelley tool
Donlin to the Cincinnati team, but i
was not until 1908 that Mike resumed
his great skill as batsman, the
records of the season giving him I;
mark of .351, the second best in tn.
National league. He was also secont
in the league in 1904, and the follow
| ing years he was transferred to tn,
| ranks of the New York club
The principal achievements of thu
rival batsmen follow:
| WHEN WAGNER LED THE LEAGUE
1900 Average -. .sS0l1sO6 Average -. .ss
| 1903 Average -. .;55l 1907 Average 80 IS
/ 1904 Average -. $40
| WAGNER WITH LOUISVILLE CLUB
G. ALB R. H. SB. Az
1867 1890. 81 241 IS s. % "a
| 1898 .....l4S 591 50 $50 p 80
! lSyl ia Il3