The Detroit times., 1912-08-17
MUCH RED SOy SUCCESS
is DUE TO Mr.. HEINIE
WAGNER, THEIR SHORTSTOP
McAleer Said Last Spring Pen
nant Depended on This
Man
HIS ARM CAME BACK
Then There Were DoingS, With
Result That Boston is
Well, Look
HIS ARM CAME BACK

BOSTON, Aug. 17-"If Heinie
iNagner's arm GENES back into shape
we will have a baseball team worth
talking about-Wagner is the only
problem. II he's Wagner we may
beat 'em all II he isn't | don't
know just what well do.
President McAleer, of the Red SoN.
made this comment before the Red
Sox started on their spring training
trip this year Then he observed
This Wagner fellow is wonder.
Last fall he was discouraged His
arm went bad and he was afraid he
would never come back | met him
in the fall, told him TO take II easy,
forget about his troubles and work
himself gradually into shape. told
him we'd stick by him until he was
his old self again. Now. we'll wait
and see how II comes out"
Wagner's arm did come back" F" II
Is better every day OF his life. and
around "Heinie" Wagner now re-
wolves team that has beaten
everything in the American League
and looks like il night wear well the
title OF worlds champions this fall.
Wagner is the pivot of the Red
Sox leaders. He is the key cf the
| infield, and without stonewall in
field or something like one, the Red
Sox could never have approached
first place Some critics even claim
that Wagner is the best shortstop in
the American League
The Red Sox have had the best de-
fensive outfeld tn the league -
long time Last year the pitchers
did not work UP to championship
form, and the infeld was patch
work all season. Wagner's arm
went bad, and he had to play second
base, when he played at all.
| A second division team resulted
| This year the pitchers are going
we'll" Wagner is himself again and
the infield, with Jake Stahl back IN
harness, finishes the championship
baseball outfit.
Wagner Is the man who adds &c
the team just what was needed &c
win the pennant His return tc
form has given the other infelder;
! confidence They are the ballast
he is the driving power.
Any fly ball that comes into this
territory will be taken. OF a surety
lby Heine Wagner, except wher
Heinie is drawn out OF position, OF
when II happens TO be in Speaker;
own pet preserve.
He IS death TO ny balls and Is par.
ticularly strong for those nifty little
Texas leaguers that usually droT
! back Of the infeld before anybody
can get under them unless il be
! Heinie
I Similarly. most ground balls that
/ are jabbed into that territory are
Wagner's prey He covers all Of the
wide stretch between Stove Yerkes
and Larry Gardner and neither
Gardner nor Yerkes need move far
out OF his position. for Wagner trails
away into their territory
He takes the balls "clean"-that
Is. he gets the groundors and n,
bounders squarely In his two handt
without the preliminary iugglin,
that retards so many inheldcrs 7
the hits are too wide for twC-hand
+ ed stop Wagner has spectacula,
way OF stabbing them with one hand
the bare one or the gloYed one alike
Then comes the throw Wagne'
does not wait 10 get into position HC
throws from nearly any position Hits
to deep shortfield are Kelly IN be safe
ones unless the stoD Is quick and
clean and the thrrw IS like 2 bullet
That is "TIeinic's" sDeclaltv bullet
throws, end no Other inneider I'm
either leaguc can boat him M them
The ball goes with tremendous speed
in a straight line and is rarely inac.
curate
Wagner now and then fumhles one
or throws awkwardlv when some.
body runs in front OF him: that is
one OF his few weaknesses.
7 Wagner covers second base fCr
most of the throws TO head on base
runners When the runner starts of
\ first "Heinie usually waits 20 see
tif II Is "hit and run" play, and is
drawn out OF position less nv those
plays than most OF the other short
stops
Otherwise he hikes for the bag. lie
takes the catcher's throw on run.
usually In one hand; then blocks IN