The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-02
WAGNER VERSUS COBB
Comparison of the Two Greatest
Ball Players In Game.
TEMPERAMENTAL OPPOSITES.

Wagner, Ponderous D=shing Athlete,
Bids Fair to Lead National League
In Batting Asain-cobb Likely to
Head American League Batsn,en.
A few years ago consfdera BILE space
was given in the newspapers all over
the country to the relative abilities of
Hans Wagner and Napoleon Lajoie.
the champion sluegers of the National
and American leagues. Very little is
said about LaJoie now. Still, he is a
great ball tosser. But his successor as
the star player Of the American league,
Tyrus Cobb Is now being compared to
the only Honus and not to Cobb's dis
advantage either. Should Pittsburg
and Detroit play for the worlds cham
pionship a splendid chance will be
given for the fans and critics to size
the men UP equally.
Wagner and Lnjoie are Temperament
tally alike. Both are modest. quiet
men on and of the ball field. Neither
has ever appeared to be a brilliant
thinker or executor Of plays. Both
seem to have enough natural ability to
mechanically execute plays that would
appear sensational IL performed by
another player.
The comparison between Cobb and
Wagner is an interesting one. Both
achieve great results, but not in the
same manner. Wagner Is a ponder
ously perfect athlete, while Cobb, a
slender. delicate appearing chap, pos
sesses ability which is constantly
brought to the surface by his brilliant
plays AID the wonderful spirit that
has made him envied and hated by 9TH
ers.
Both men are wonderful hitters,
wonderful base runners and wonderful
de!ders. For more than twelve years
wagner has kept up dizzy pace. He
has played every position and, not
only that. has been sensation in
them. lie has the speed Of Cobb,
the terrific hitting powers Of Lajoie,
the energy OF Jennings and the dis
position OF Willie Keller. Cobb. on
the other hand. has been setting the
kingly pace for but three years.
But how different they are. You
point to Cobb with pride as the ideal
ball plnyer, and then you watch Hans
wagner and smile at the comparison,
for all that Cobb is. except in ability
to get there" Wagner isn't.
In action Ty Cobb comes closer to
the athletic IDEAL than any other man
IN baseball. Built like a greyhound,
mis- wonderful, 1.-THE body Is always a
study.
Wagner Is without precedent in the
athletic world. As Cobb wins admira.
ttion by his grace. Wagner awes one by
his bulk. Wagner just bulges all over.
He has to have shoes made to order,
he Is cramped In an ordinary bed, he
eats a meal worthy Of three men and
his hands are as big as good sized
hams.
When Wagner wabbles to the plate
swinging his great bat it looks as IL
Gibraltar were topping over. But
when he is set to swing there is action
wonderful action.
Wagner can run the hundred yards
In close to ten seconds any time dur.
Ing seasons play. He doesn't sprint
In the sense Of the word, nor does he
galop. No one has been quite able to
describe just what he does, but he gets
there.
In fielding it's the same way. In
Hans great hands the ball assumes
the size Of pea or close to it. The
most terrific drive in his direction be-
comes puny tap when he reaches |
for it.
Wagner hits 800 every year by force
OF habit. He has no equal at short. |
and his base running is always Of the
best. Hc is paid probably the biggest |
salary Of any player in the game. and
yet 1t has no joys for him. Gladly
would he quit it all and stick to his |
one Joy In life-raising chickens. He
stands alone In baseball as the one
player who wants to quit. He is just
tired Of it oil. He Is worth we'll over
100000, Is Il bachelor and is RESPONSE
BILE to no one. His tastes are simpler
than the average mans. Poultry books
are followed by him more closely than
arc the baseball averages.
But every year Dreyfuss comes to
him and pleads. Won't he play just
another year? And he is grateful.
Without conceit. he realizes that he
owes debt OF gratitude to the game.
1t gave him his fortune. and he should
not leave it when 1t needs him, SO he
gets in line again.
AS for :;ameneSs, Cobb is Il study.
Just picture yourself as you are.
Imagine seeing your picture in the pa
per every night in every town you
went to with lines under it to the eff
feet that fifteen or more men in every
city had vowed to get you" Wouldn't
you feel little squeamish, and wouldn't
you the next time you went out be a
little more careful?
But not Tyrus. For three years now
threats have been made against him
by every disgruntled player he has
shown up. But he has kept right on
playing better ball every day. and now
he stands with only one man as his
rival, and that Is Wagner
Here's One on Jennings.
Hugh Jennings had the opportunity
to watch Catcher Archer whole