The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-03-20
MATHEWSON BOWS
TO HANS WAGNER
STAR TWlRLER CALLS FLYING
DUTCHMAN" BEST HITTER
THAT EVER FACED HIM.
TALKS OF OTHER BATTERS
Sluggers Most Feared for Ability to
Dangerous with Men on Bases
Willie Keller Best Type Of Scien-
tfic Hitter.

tfic Hitter.
Christy Mathewson, the New York
Giant pitcher who now is coaching
the Harvard twirlers recently made a
general criticism of the great batsmen
whom he has faced in his career.
The heavy hitter" said Matty, is
most feared for his ability to break up
games. The place hitter is feared
with men on bases as he can work
the hit and run and squeeze plays or
advance the base runner by bunting
at the most unexpected times.
"Of course, in any criticism Of bats.
men of the present day | am limited
TO my own experience in the National
league, except in the worlds cham
pionship series of 1905, when | pitched
against the Athletics, who failed TO
do much hitting in the entire series.
The man most to be feared j.
Hans Wagner of the Pittsburg club.
He is the rare combination Of place
hitter and slugger and is equally dan
gerous III either style of hitting. While
he is free hitter, he is constantly
trying to outwit the pitcher. When
the outtield is playing deep to cut a
long hit, have known him purposely
to push the ball over the intield for d
two-base Texas Lacquer
With the base runner on first.
some of his hardest drives go past the
first baseman who. of course. has to
play on the bag. Most of his longest
drives go toward left field. but he has
been known to hit the ball over the
Brooklyn right field fence. which is a
great feat even for left handed
hitter.
Wagner does not always wait for
the bah to come over the plate. Many
of his long hits arc made off balls
pitched high or wide His strength of
arm and exceptional reach enable him
to meet squarcly balls that another
batsman would miss or pop up in the
air
by his great speed he beats out
any ground ball that is fumhled
momentarily or is not thrown ac-
Curatcly and til probable he stretches
more singles into doubles by taking
advantage of the smallest openings
than any other player in baseball to-
day. He is stingy with his strikeouts,
and. all in all Is the most dangerous
batsman to whom | ever have pitched
| even have been called upon 10 try
the spitball against him, which | rare
~ use, but if he has a pronounced
weakness, | have never been able to
find II.
In speaking Of dangerous hitters.
there are, Of course, men on my own
team against whom | do not have to
pitch but would class Mike Donlin
high in the list Of dangerous batsmen
He and Wagner had a very close race
last year, but the Flying Dutchman"
beat him out in the stretch by a few
points
While discussing the great Pitts.
burg star It might not be remiss to re.
mark ths it is wonderful with what
power Tommy Leach hits a ball For
a little fellow he Is marvel Fred
Clarke. too. is a consistent hitter and
especially dangerous with men on
the bases
Some batsmen have improved ir
their hitting and cannot be fooled by
certain balls that originally bothered
them. such batsmen are Frank Chance
and Joe Tinker Of the Chicago club
The hits OF both these men against
New York helped Chicago greatly In
winning the champ ionship last season
and most Of these hits were made of
balls pitched 10 their supposed weak.
nesses Both are difficult men TO fool
and Chance Is probably the more
scientific hitter
Mage and Pransfeld Of he phi.
lies are valuable men with the willow
Magcc's fitness was serious handicap
iu the latter part Of the season of 1905
while Rransfeld struck a terrific gait
in the closing months Of the campaign
and succeeded ID leading the team for
tie year