The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-21
FAST SHORTSTOPS
ECLIPSE WAGNER
BY SAM CRANE

New York. August OCCURRING the,
recent series between the Giants and
Cubs at the Polo grounds two OF the
best shortstops now playing ball.
Bridwell and Tinker-faced one another
In their respective positions, and 1t was
a real treat to see tn EN- perform. They
are both classy and in that important
series they showed to their true form.
They both seemed to appreciate the
wonderful ability of each other and
In every game of the four played there
was a battle royal of shortstops
From every angle of play the only
fair decision would be to give a draw
between them
Since the passing of Hans Wagner,
the mainstay of the Pirates, Bridwell
and Tinker are easily the premier
shortstops of the country.
To venture to say that the great
Wagner Is passing or going back will
be considered sacrilege, no doubt not
alone in Pittsburg but throughout the
league circuit, but the fact remains
that the awkward Dutchman Is not
Coming" even If many think he is
not falling off.
But Wagner's record, both in field
ing and batting this season, Is so far
behind his remarkable showing In pre-
vious years as a Pirate that there must
be a reason for 1t. and the most not
able conclusion to arrive at Is that
age Is telling on the old veteran.
Youth must prevail in athletics
There Is no getting around that and
th ere have been more object lessons
this year in baseball to prove 1t than
In any previous season that 1 remem-
ber Wagners tumble from form to
come so suddenly that it startled fan
DOM He still gives flashes OF his
old-time brilliancy, as veterans always
do, when they are on the decline, but
that his remarkable ability Is on the
wane Is plain to everybody who has
carefully studied his seasons work of
1910.
Bridwell and Tinker are classy be-
cause they are heady They both are
blessed with baseball brains and know
how to use them and that fortunate
combination is sure to result In star
players, but without 1t star ball play
ers are not developed.
Tinker has the reputation among ball
players of being the brains OF the
Cubs, but with the peerless leader,
Frank Chance, in charge of them. that
would seem to be rattle far-fetched
conclusion. But Joe Tinker knows as
much baseball as Chance or any play
er in the country for that matter, and
so, too, does AL Bridwell. The lat
ter, however, Is much less demonstra-
tive than his Cub rival, and on that
account fails to get the full apprecia-
ton that Is his due.
There was never a more graceful
player than Bridwell. Ills every move
is a dream and he makes plays SO cas-
lily that his most difficult ones are made
to appear rediculously simple. where
some shortstops would be breaking
their necks in going after puzzling
hits. Bridwell gathers them in without
apparent effort.
Tinker, too, has the same knack, but
is hardly up to Bridwell for artistic
grace.
), Neither Tinker nor Bridwe1l are
heavy hitters, but they are timely bat
ters. But Tinker can surely wallop
Christy Mathewson's best offerings and
1t is for this reason that the Cubs
have won so many games from the
Giants. In the series just closed be-
tween the Giants and Cubs Tinker got
three singles of Matty in one game and
Bridwell came to the front in the last
game of the series with a triple when
the bases were full
And SO that series showed that there
is little to choose between the two star
shortstops, so 1t will be Just to call
IT tie game between them as the best
In their positions in the National
league.