The Washington herald., 1908-08-09
WAGNER BEST EYER
Pirate ShOrtStOp the Greatest
Player in Baseball.
GERMAN IMPROVES WITH AGE
ATvkwardIy Built and Clumsy I'm
Appearance, Pittsburg's Idol il
One of the Fastest Men in the
Game TO-day-Takes All Kinds Of
Chances and Never Lets Up.

All in a class by himself Is Hans
Wagner. the crack shortstop Of the PITTS
burg baseball team Players come and
players go, but Hans evidently goes on
forever. The great old veteran is playing
better ball this year than ever before.
Like old Cy Young. the venerable Bos-
ton twirler. age seems 10 have no ter
rors for the peerless inhelder. Il has
been his phenomenal work IN the season
so far that has put PittsbUrg in com
handing position for the National League
pennant this year Not only has Wagner
established an unprecedented record as
champion batsmaa. but he IS a fielder
Of exceptional ability.
Plays that the ordinary shortstop would
not think OF attempting the great Ger
man effects with such marvellous ease
that they really appear easy for him
More than a month ago Wagner made
his twO-thousandth hit IN the National
League. a record which Laioie has Just
only attained a short time ago Since
1870 he has led the National League hit
tiers five years. and during that time has
grand average OF a trlfe better than
.s13.
Hans Wagner IS one of the most unas-
suTning PLAYERS the game ever developed.
There Is nothing ''chestyr' or vain about
ms bearing either on or OF the field. He
has always a word or announcement for
the young player and never knocks"
a rival Il Is this disposition that has
earned him the uudyiug respect OF his
teammates and the baseball world n
general No one Is more popular in New
spite the fact that more than auy other
man or team for that matter. he is feared
az the Polo Grounds. At least fifty per
cent q the defeats Of the Giants bv the
Pirates may be laid az the door 0f the
best shortstop Of them all
Confidence Big Factor.
The main thing in batting" said wag-
ner. the other day. "is confidence Show
NE man who has plenty OF nerve. good
eyesight and ambition. and I viii show
you hitter. don't believe a great deal
In those old familiar gags that ba-ters
are born not made. Il stan - 20 reason
that a man can learn % time a bail from
the pitchers box better than he can
ie=rn 10 judge a fly. say in the o-tneId.
Just as A fielder lays for his batter s,
should a baJsman lay for the pitcher
An ounce OF horse sense judiciousIy ap-
Piled VIII often help a hitter q great deal. I
He must le quick 20 size ID his sttua-
tons and versatile IN switching tactics.
Baseball is no more nor less than q
Of wits. Tie one who can al
" avs spring the unexpected IS the one
vino always or nearly always comes OF
first
Il IS this marked versatility q the big
Pitts51lrg shortstoP that has made him
also one OF The crafuest base runners IN +
The country No one ever knows what /
b. Is next going 20 D.. Naturally Wagrer I
IS awkward Of build he covers The /
ground in luu5e-iuE style. is bovv-IeEref /
and anything but speedy looking He viii 4
tel you that as a boy Re was ANYTHING ]
)ut agile His phenomenal speed he has
7velope1- He IS still developing IL For I
Wagner IS 2 hard worker. He never lets
.ood enough alone. He firmly believes
hat there IS no such thing as perfer-
ion. and works out all summer long even
lardar than The recruits who are lust
rylng % break in. Physically p. IS a
1ant but such only because he refuses. 20
give ground 20 physical ailraeut. Wagner
'as been subject for several years nov
10 rheumatisn- Less wiIifuE r-avers
would have todied 70 the ariction. Bur
iot Wagner
Nav QuF. Nerr V.,-