Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-01-27
COBB AND WAGNER
PREMIER. BATTERS
DETROIT sLueoER COMPARATIVE
NOVICE. PlTTseuRG MAN
VETERAN AT GAME.
REMARKABLE RISE OF FORMER
In Two Years Has Jumped from Minor
Lacquer to One OF Greatest Play.
ers Of the Day-"Hans" Leads Bat.
tiers Of National for Fifth conseeu.
tive Season.


tiers Of National for Fifth conseeu.
tive Season.
lnasmuch as Hans Wagner. OF the
Pirates, aud Tyrus Cobb. OF the Tigers
are the champion batsmen OF the Ma
tional and American leagues for the
season OF 1907. little about the two
men Is not out OF the way at this
time. The following Is from the pen
OF an eastern baseball writer:
Some weeks ago the athletic d.
rector OF great university gave out
an interesting interview on the various
physical requirements necessary to
the athlete who would excel I'm any
OF the great outdoor sports. lie spoke
OF the short lower legs and strong
ankles OF the Jumper; the long-mus.
eled. clean-cut frame OF the runner:
the broad, sturdy frame OF the foot.
bail player. and so on. But when he
came TO baseball he threw up his
hands. Baseball players are OF all
shapes, sizes and ages. and there is
not the slightest warrant for naming
anything but good health as an essen.
tlal,' he said.
Young Ty Cobb. champion hitter
and hero OF the American league. and
the veteran Hans Wagner. who again
distanced all Corners for honors I'm the
National league, seem TO show the wis.
dom or the experts views. Both men
arrived at the same place. but by
widely different methods. Cobb shares
with Hal Chase the fame OF being the
most remarkable young player of the
day and Cobb's rise to first place was
even moro sensational than the Yam
kee stars. Coming from a very minor
league, the Southern, I'm two years OF
big-league ball he is the most-talked-
or player OF the season. Besides lead
ing the American league in batting.
with an average OF 1852. the young De-
troit player showed the veterans OF
the league how to steal bases. leading
the list with ~ pilfered bags. Cobb
was under 20 when he came TO Detroit.
and II was his business. by all big
league tradition. TO walk softly for a
couple OF years and speak when
spoken to. Rut no was made OF other
material. He was filled with an ad-
mirable conceit lie believed himself
to be one OF the best ball players I'm
the country and he didn't intend losing
any time in proving IT,
He began to bat and run bases as II
he had right TO. and he felded with
headlong aggressiveness that made
him bitter enemy or two on his own
club and finally wound up in a pitched
battle with another outfielder OF the
Tigers. Cobb licked him and went on
I'm the same old way. This year he was
the sensation of baseball His batting
and base-running were the fan talk VI
eight cities. OF medium height. with
straight. clean. but muscular build
powerful, tapering legs. quick. ac
curate eye, wonderful throwing arm
and. above all. superior insolent con
fdence in himself, he became the
greatest ball player OF the league
while but little more than a boy
big, awkward, conscientious. good.
natured Hans Wagner. steady and
strong in his years Of baseball lore
greatest ball player I'm the country, is
the direct antithesis OF young Cobb
So much has been written for years
Of the virtues and ability OF the great
Pirate shortstop that even a recapitu.
lation is almost superhuous. This
year, however. he accomplished one
feat that adds to his Donors lie estab-
lished a new record for long batting
success on the diamond. this being the
fifth year that he has held the Nation
al league title He won the batting
championship with a mark OF $50 and
the base.Tunning honors with 81 stolen
sacks. lie is Just behind Cobb In bat
ting honors and far ahead In base-run
ming on the year No one ever saw
anything graceful or picturesque about
Wagner on the diamond His move
ments have been likened to the gam
bOls OF caracCling elephant. He Is
ungainly and so bowlegged that when
he runs his limbs seem TO be moving
in circle. after the fashion OF a pro
pellcr But he can run like the wind
When he starts after grounder every
outlying portion OF his anatomy appar
emily has ideas OF its own about the
proper line Of direction to be taken
His position at the bat IS less awk
ward and the muscular swing OF his
great arms and shoulders Is strong
enough 20 drive the bail farther than
most batters who hit from their toe
spikes mp. Experts do not agree that
Wagner is the greatest shortstop IN
the game to-day. but there Is no ques
ton that he Is the greatest allround
player OF this or probably any other
season"