Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-20
BILL LANCE AND
NJ GRkW DIFFER
GREATEST MAN
Giants Scrappy Manager Picks
Collins, While Old SIugger
Sticks Out For Wagner,
By Bill Lange.
Famous SIugger Years Ago.

famous managers that baseball
los known. saws Eddie Collins OF
y. >-1letics is the greatest player in
,ne game to-day. but / can't agree
,*th him. ! think Hans Wagner. OF
.aa pirates. stands out above Collins,
.,,r 1 would not even go so far as To
s.1- that Wagner is the king of them
III either. It's almost an impossible
,4s, for any man to pick out the KING
of ball players.
really think that McGraw was un-
fuy influenced when he made tnat
remark about Collins. He saw inns
wonderful young player at ms pest
md he noted how Collins brilliant
work vas robbing him of the cham
,fors1iu Of the world. Many another
1rayer in either the National or the
American League might have done
,he .9ma thing had he been given the
opportunity,
don't want to take any credit
away from Collins. but. in justice to
Wagner one of the grandest ball
,ossers who ever put on glove, l
simply rise to speak a few words IN
his defense.
This wonderful Pittsburg infielder
has been playing major league ball
ever since 1897. when he started out
with the old Louisville club, when the
National League had ten teams on It's
circuit. He has been going ever since.
AuG he always has been right up with
the stars
Fans Tire Of Players.
Now. collins has been at it for four
years only | will have to admit that
Ee ia a remarkable youngst"r and that
he has gotten away with some plays
a,uYt him. But 50 had Wagner We
we're reading about Wagner and his
Worl, when Collins was little more
taar "a c1ild. And still old Honus is
grinding away
This leads me to believe that some
times they tire Of the grand old men
IF the diamond The public is looking
for new faces. Collins is just coming
fo the front. While Wagner has been
here SO long that they probably con
slider him a has been. But he is still
Il very live and active tosser, and.
Earring accidents he will be good for
many a day 10 como.
Now comes Collins to the front with
ii lot 90 his hashy stuff. He has man
aged to dazzle the leader of the
Giants, who saw him do more than
ua, of the others TO rob him of the
wonder nat AIuggs, takes his cap off
Ia Eddie. I might 10 the same thing
myself. under the same circum-
stances but I am out of the game for
keeps.
Wagner has played in a few worlds
championship contests himself, and
he always did shine more brightly
tEau the other fellows He was there
IN the field. at the bat and on the
bases He served his club faithfully,
took his orders and always behaved
Ike a gentleman.
Perhaps Collins will be as great a
player as Wagner some day, but he
must put in few more sea sons be
fore We can place MIN in the same
class with the man from Pittsburg.
Let US see if he can stand the wear
and tear like this old Pirate warhorse
has stood it during all these years.
Then. again. Collins has been play
ing second base all the time. They
have never shifted him around How
about Wagner? Why, he has done
everything but pitch and catch. and l
nave heard that he is there behind the
bat and in the box, too. if 1t comes to
pinch
He can fill in any place, this big
fellow and he never falls down.
either They play him at first. sec
ohQ, third and short and sometimes
N the outfeld. | will admit that he
tds not been as active this season as
m ne past. but this was principally
because he was injured early in the
season and was out for some 50-odd
games. Collins, on the other hand.
was 4 very regular performer all year,
missing but few battles
The great little second baseman Of
'a@ Athletics is given more credit
man any other man on the team for
winning the worlds championship,
ana ! guess that it is coming to him.
ne certainly was there in every pinch
save one, when he threw the ball away
lAe second game and allowed the
't7htS to register two runs which
we're not coming to them.
Collins Real Star.
"IIjns is natural ball player. He
las the speed, the eye and the nerve.
80 has Wagner Then. Honus has
,"nHJ twelve years Of experience on
'.3nS, and, believe me, a ball player
,stfhS something each year he plays.
anew this from practical experience
40, would not want TO go on rec
.," as saving who is the mightiest
gIaEer IN the world. It is hard. in
.eE,. 10 cOmDare an infielder with an
.G5uHetder. The general impression is
,.Lal 'ooo TOPS them all. but I don't
snow about this The work of the
-LHe,HerS and the outfielders is so
,'NOE different there is absolutely no
"8h'e 10 work out a sensible COM
,7f-Son. and. therefore, I am not GO
'hg 10 try.