Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-25
MATHEWSON BOWS
TO HANS WAGNER
STAR TWiRLER CALLS FLYING
DUTCHMAN" BEST HITTER
THAT EVER FACED HIM.
TALKS OF OTHER BATTERS
Siuggers Most Feared for Ability to
Break Up Games-Plaee Hitters
DANCE -ous with Men on Bases
Willie Keller Best Type of Scien-
tific Hitter.

the Harvard twirlers recently made a
general criticism of the great batsmen
whom he has faced in his career.
THE heavy hitter said Matty. sis
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 Is
Hans Wagner Of the Pittsburg club,
He Is the rare combination of place
hitter and slugger and is equally dan
gerous in either style of hitting. While
he is a free hitter, he is constantly
trying to outwit the pitcher. When
the outield is playing deep to cut a
long hit, | have known him purposely
to push the ball over the inield for a
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 so toward left field, but he has
been known to bit the ball oye the
Brooklyn right field fence. which is a
great feat even for a left handed
hitter.
Wagner does not always wait for
the ball to come ovor the plate. Many
of his long hits are made off balls
pitched high or wide. His strength of
arm and exceptional reach enable him
to meet squarely balls that another
batsman would miss or pop up in the
air.
by his great speed he beats out
any ground ball that is fumbled
momentarily or is not thrown ac-
curately and il is probable he stretches
more singles into doubles by taking
advantage of the smallest openings
than any other player in baseball to-
day. lie is stingy with his strikeouts,
and, all in all, is the most dangerous
batsman to whom ! ever have pitched.
| even have been called upon TO try
the spitball against him, which ! rare
~ use, but If he has q pronounced
weakness, | have never been able to
find IL.
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 car. but the Flying Dutchman'
beat him out in the stretch by a few
points.
while discussing the great Pitts
burg star II might not be remiss to re.
mark that II is wonderful with what
power Tommy Leach hits a ball. 70
a little fellow he is a marvel. Fred
Clarke, too, is a consistent hitter n
especially dangerous with men on
the bases.
Some batsmen have improved In
their hitting and cannot be fooled by
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 championship last season
and most OF these hits were made off
balls pitched TO their supposed weak
nesses. Both are difficult men TO fool,
and Chance is probably the more
hitter.
"Magee and Bransfeld Of the Phil
lies are valuable men with the willow
Magce's Illness was a serious handicap
in the latter part of the season OF 1908,
while Bransheld struck a terrific gait
in the closing months Of the campaign
and succeeded In leading the team for
the year.
'Lobert of Cincinnati is a dangerous
long hitter and is so fast that he can
beat out infeld hits, While he did
not have the opportunity TO shine on a
championship club, his work against
he leaders in the closing weeks OF
80 A1aAA
last season contributed to upsets in
both New York and Chicago calcula-
lions.
Tim Jordan Of Brooklyn takes q
vicious swing at every ball he likes,
md his propensity for making home
causes the pitchers to be ex
remedy careful TO put the ball over
when a long hit means 4 lost game.
mo discussion of II great batters
would be complete Without reference
Willie Keller. formerly of the Balti'
more and Brooklyn championship
cams. lie was one Of the first men
q adopt the short hold method of
-rasping the bal. IN this way ne al
ways was prepared to bumt or to snap
he ball past third base and was equal
Y successful in pulling the bail past
irst. lie has not made many home
.uns. but always has kept the oppos
ng pitcher guessing as to what kind
ball possibly could fool him. lie is
he best type OF scientific hitter we
had since McGraw quit playing.
Smoot. Hickman and seybold will