The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-17
COBB OR wagner
IS THE GREATEST.
Fans in All Leagues Differ as
to Which Is the Greater
Player.
STAR PLAYERS COMPARED
PIRATE LEADS IN FIELDING
WITH TIGER BEST sTIcKER.
Crank L. Dickinson, in the New York
Herald.)

Crank L. Dickinson, in the New York
HeraId.)
There seems TO be a great difference
Of opinion throughout the country
among baseball fans" as to which Of
these men-Wagner or Cobb-should be
considered the best ball player IN the
country. Since they do not play in the
same positions, and are as different as
any two men could possibly be in men
tai makeup and general baseball form,
the only way to judge them is by con-
sulting their records.
Cobb always seems to have more mo
tive power stored up than he can use,
which is in evidence in his every move
ment. Wagner, on the other hand, is
just the OppOsite-cOol, calculating and
quiet, but possessing a muscular devel-
opment very much greater than CObb's.
In the days of ancient Greece Cobb
would have been an ideal representative
of the Athenian athlete, while Wagner
would have been the personiication Of
the Spartan.
Cobb's position at the plate is a mas
terpiece Of good form. He stands with
his feet about six inches apart. his
weight resting mostly on the back leg,
ready to step in any direction that he
may desire. Wagner assumes an awll-
ward, ungainly position at the plate,
with feet FAR apart, knees slightly bent,
and in a half crouch, depending mostly
upon the wonderful strength of his fore
arms and shoulders to drive the ball.
Cobb grasps the bat about six inches
from the candle, with hands varying
from four to six inches apart. In this
way he gets better control of The bat
for his quick, decisive chops, and ar the
same time he can watch balls close TO
him before starting his swing.
Wagner varies the position Of his
hands, sometimes swinging from the ex-
IRENE end, at other times choking the
bat up close.
In the act of hitting the ball, Cobb
drives his body forward off his back
foot by switching his weight from one
foot to the other, so that the upper part
of the body is resting on the front foot.
In this way ne concentrates his whole
strength in his swing, using his arms
only to guide the bat, except in the last
decisive chop. He develops the prOpel-
ling power in his body and uses his arms
as the final force of transmission. Wag-
ner, on the other hand, does not step
far, depending more upon the marvel
Gus muscular development of his fore
arms and shoulders to drive the ball.
foot TO the front more through power
developed by his abdominal muscles
than in the direct act of stepping into
the ball He can watch the ball as close
TO him as Cobb can, because of his ad-
ditional muscular development.
Cobb has a decided advantage over
Wagner in the fact that he bats left
handed, in this way being from four to
six feet closer to first base, and in hit
ting to right field is in his natural stride
as soon as he swings. Being a good
bunter and also a clever left-field hit
ter, he keeps the third basemen guessing
all the time, too.
As base runners, both Cobb and Wag-
ner are wonders. Each one studies the
pecuIarities of the pitchers delivery
and starts at the psychological moment,
but Cobb, having more speed and a per
feet slide, gets to the base quicker and
IS harder to touch. Being naturally fear
less and keeping in mind always the
position of the ball-sliding In front on
high throw sliding behind on a low
ball and going in straight on a perfect
thrOw-he sometimes spikes the base
man, but only when the baseman is on
the base line and blocking the play.
Wagner, on the other hand. has
longer stride and a wonderfully attenu-
ated slide, but cannot get his huge body
away from the plays as can Cobb.
Choosing the ball to go on when he
has the best lead and working with the
batter, who can help him out, are in.
disputable assets in baserunning, which
both Cobb and Wagner depend upon TO
a large extent.