The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-10-20
HONUS BEST
Of EN- ALL,
SAYS OWE
Big Jeff Declares That Flying
Dutchman Is Superior to
McGraW's Selection
BY ORvIE OVERALL

TT ANS WAGNER I consider the
greatest ball player of them all.
The present day stars will have
to go a long way before they can
compare with the great German
When McGraw declared Collins the
peer of all ball players he must have
been Influenced bya burst of enthus-
iasm that made him forget the past.
Collins is ayoung man in the game
alongside of Wagner and there is no
way of comparing the Collins of today
and the Wagner of 10 years ago. If
draw conclusions Wagner has it on
all Of them by a big margin.
There Is not player the game to-
day whose record can compare with
Wagner's. He has been going along
for II years and he is still holding his
own with the best in the game.
DIDN'T HAVE A WEAKNESS
When / first went to the big league
Wagner was in his prime. He was
easily the star of the National league,
and there were few players who
eQualled him in any department of
the game. He did not have weak
ness. and while there were other
players who may have been as good
fielders as the German, they could
not bat or run bases like him. Others
might have batted as well as Wagner.
but they were not up to his standard
in other departments of the game.
Collins and Cobb are remarkable
players and two of the greatest the
game has known, but / can not figure
where either Of them excels Wagner.
I am talking of Wagner when he
was at his best. Both Collins and
Cobb are at their best now, while
Wagner Is on the slide. so 1T is hard
TO make comparisons between these
players on their present seasons
showing.
1t would be easier to compare Col
Inns and Cobb as both of them are
in the height Of their best form,
while it is necessary to tell of what
Wagner has done to get a decision.
GREAT IN FIELD, TOO
Take Wagners record from any
angle and you will find that he is
remarkable player. On the defensive
or offensive he was strong. He
probably gained greater recognition
through his batting feats because the
followers of the sport pay more at
tention to this feature of the game,
as IL catches their eye
1t is admitted that he is one of
the greatest batters the game has
known, but I also contend that he is
a great fielder as well. Very few
men that played shortstop were the
equal of Wagner, and many of them
that were compared with him at one
time have passed out of the big
leagues.
He covered a great amount OF
ground at shortstop. He was also
endowed with great arm, and he
could throw the ball to first base
about as fast as any of them
ALL PITCHERS ALIKE TO HIM
Wagner is a natural hitter, and at
this department of the game he ap-
peared at his best. Auu pitchers
looked alike 10 him when he used to
sting the pill around the $50 mark.
He was strictly a slugger with
wonderful eye. He is hard to fool.
and anytime he lays the wood against
the ball II was going to travel His.
great hitting and wonderful speed
caused him to be feared by every
pitcher who faced him.
AS base stealer he was one OF the
best in the game few years back.
Cobb is a remarkable ball player.
lie does lot OF spectacular WOrk,
but 1 doubt IL he accomplishes as
much as Wagner
Wagner's record is one that think
will stand for long time. For II
, years he has been batting the ball
above the 300 mark and he appears to
be good for a few more years. Nc
Graw may figure Collins, but I can
not understand how he based his con-
illusions. as he could not have gone to
the records