The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-29


inc at least flash of his old gait
Away back in 1897. Mr.. Wagner wal
Ioped his WAY into the 300 class with
an average of .3ii. and inst TO prove
that there was no error about II,
Hans has been hitting over 800 ever
since, feat beaten by only two mon
ln the history OF the major leagues,
and 1t may be said for Wagner that
neither Anson or Brouthers worked
against the pitchers OF the present
day. or tried 10 hit splitter" out
OF the lot.
Old Cap Arson dropped into the
400 and over" class for % yenrs.
straight, beginning with 1876 and
winding up with 1890. Then old Cap
lost his oar for two years and came
back with five straight hitting above
300
Pitchers Less Formidable.
Dan Brouthers. the other great hit
ting first baseman. scored for II
years without a break, beginning in
1881 and closing his phenomenal
streak In 1894 The pitchers did not
have so many acres IN the hole in
those days. and 300 hltters were not
such rare birds az they are today.
That Is why the mighty Hans deserves
TO rank as the greatest hitter of the
period OF his service
Wee Willie kccler, with his placed
singles over the infield, ties Wagner
with 1S years In the 800 class. but
the 18th year finished Wee William,
while for the last two years of his
tenure he barely scrapcd through.
Anson worked against nothing but
round-housc curves and speed, in
day when the batter had some chance
for his life His grand average for
his fifteen consecutive years was 351.
while Dan Broutbers. his rival, who
happened along five years later. tore
Into the 800 class and In II con-
secutlve years amassed an average
of 352. just notching out of the world
renowned Cap.
Kceler. the other OF the everlast-
Ing 800 hitters. hung up an average
OF .359, was once over 400 and twice
In the 800 class, which helped him out
when In 1905 and 1906 he hit .302
and 304.
Wagner came along three years al
ter keoler and has outclassed him
as 300 hitter for the same num-
Der of years. and while The other men
all got above 400 at some time in
their career, Wagner never reached
that lofty cminencc, but nevertheless
Is there with an average OF 3Si for
his Is years.
These tiresome figures out OF the
system, We will now turn back TO the
query. What's ailing Hans?"
The Pittsburg boosters say II is a
slump. What Hans has 10 say can
not be printed. and the opposing
pitchers. taking heart after long years
OF bombardment, state that Hans is
all through One we'll known spit
ball professor-wont mention his
club-says that Wagner's eye has
gone back on him.
'lf that Dutchman gets above 300
this year. I'll eat him." says this per-
son. You remember last year he
had an awful slump. but he rounded
to In time and finished hitting a
plenty, That was because the Pirates
were all hitting, more or less. and
when club Is pasting every finger
who comes along. it IS easy for al
most anybody to step up there and
bank out one OF the lot a pitcher
who Is getting his medicine Is gener.
rally pretty soft, and We were all get
ting ours last season from the Pirate eS.
This year It's different Pittsburg
isn't going any too strong. and Mr..
Wagner fell out of his canoe early in
the season and hasn't got back vet
If this big wide German does not
recover his batting eve and come
again he viii rob the game of one
of its most valuable drawing cards.
There are thousands of people all
over the circuit who turn to watch
the Pirates play ball because they
like TO see Wagner stand up at the
plate and whaDg the ball TO the fence.
The clubs are bustling now. The
turning point arrives in July. Ii
Hans Wagner expects to tie Dan
Rrouthers with a 14~ycar run in the
-300class, he would do we'll TO whet'
up that eagle eye of his ana begin
TO commence. And what would the
Pirate infield be without Hans Wag-
ner7