The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-09-24
BEST BATTER in
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CLOSE RACE BETWEEN ooNllN
AND WAGNER FOR TITLE
OF CHAMPION.
HANS" SLIGHTLY IN THE LEAD

INV rast Company-Won.
oer'u' Performance Of Pittsburo
man Since Joining cIyb-Neu,
York Captain In Game - Years
The contest for the batting sunrem.
acy OF the year In the National league
between John Henry Wagner or
HANS or "Honus" Wagner, as the
great shortstop of the Pittsburc cmh
Is iamiliarly called, and Michael Don.
m captain and right fielder of the
NeW YORK team, equals In intensity
me interest that iE being taken in the
outcome of the battle that is being
waged for the CHAMPIONSHIPS Of the
National and American leagues. Thus
lar wagner leads the left-handed can.
taih or the Giants by about IA points
.he percentages couple of DAYS ago
Oelng: Wagner, 1876: Donlin. 321
me latter, however, has been batting
quite consistently, and there are many
experts who believe he will land
ahead OF the formidable Pittsburger
Ut tne close of the season.
Wagner has made a wonderful
record since he joined the Pittsburg
cup 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-
iessional engagement with the
Stuebenville (O) club in 1895 he was
regarded as formidable batsman.
The following year he joined the
Paterson IN. j. club of the Atlantic
league and remained there until July
OF 1897, when the Louisville manage.
ment 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
1893, 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 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 %
last Wagner made his hundredth hit
of the season, Donlin being the first to
score that record on July 10, and Cobb
of the Detroit team of the American
league the second on July 10.
Mike Donlin's reputation as bats
man since he joined the National
Ipapua nc n membar of tho CT I puic
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 at
the beginning of the present season.
Donlin began his professional career
as a pitcher of the team at Los An
geles, Cal, in 1896. He had officiated
in 10 games and lost only two. AS a
hatsman he was pre-eminent, leading
the California league that year with
an average of .421. Three years later
he started his career in major league
company with the st. Louis team, and
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 John
McGraw signed Donlin to play with
his Baltimore team of the American
league, Mikes batting being one of
the features of the season, his average
reaching the splendid mark of $40.
The following year Joe Kelley took
Donlin to the Cincinnati team, but 1t
was not until 1908 that Mike resumed
his great skill as batsman, the
records of the season giving him
mark of .35l. the second best in the
National league He was also second
In the league in 1904, and the follow
ing years he was transferred to the
ranks of the New York club,
The principal achievements of the
rival batsmen follow:
WHEN WAGNER LED THE LEAGUE.