Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-26

conversation might help him to last a lit
tie longer than otherwise in the sport he
has loved and served so faithfully and
we'll
Game IL His First Love.
Wagner has always given all that he
possessed TO base ball. The game has been
no side issue. no second consideration
with him. He has never tried to cash his
reputation as a diamond star In other
lines OF work OF play.
He has made big money. but he has
made It all in his profession. and has
given a dollars worth Of effort Tor every
dollar he has received.
He could have added thousands Of dol
lars to his income had he been willing to
accept offers which were made to him
by those who were eager-to- tSade upon
his prowess.
A big clothing firm in Pittsburgh few
years ago approached Wagner with
proposition to pose as head Of its mems
furnishings department during the winter
months.
I'm no clothing man." was Honus' re
ply. II know absolutely nothing about
the business. I'm base ball man..
You don't have to know anything
about the clothing business to fill this po-
sition." he was told. ''All we want Is for
YOU to allow us to use your name In our
advertisements, and for you to stand
about In the store a few hours each day"
Nothing doing" was Wagner's laconic
comeback THAT would be taking money
under false pretenses."
The big Dutchman has had vaudeville
offers galore, and has turned them all
down. One manager offered him huge
sum to go upon the vaudeville stage with
Larry Lajole and Ty Cobb. Wagner's
part in the skit was to swing few times
at a ball at each performance. He would
not have been required to speak word.
II was easy money" and Lajoie and
Cobb were both eager to get the coin.
Lajoie was so deeply interested that he
/ made a special trip to Carnegie to try to
| get wagner's consent but Honus refused
point blank and said he desired no work
| OF that sort, because he knew he couldn't
earn what was paid him.
Thas has been his policy through life,
He has not hunted the limelight. and has
not sought the honors which have como
| to him. He has devoted himself whole
heartedly and entirely to base ball. not
striving for any personal records, but do
ing his best always for the club.
Jimmy Jerpe. Pittsburgh scribe, point
ed out last week that the records had
never done Wagner justice. inasmuch as.
when he was in his prime and playing a
class Of base ball which no one In the
world could approach. he was always list
ed fourth or fifth among the shortstops.
with a quartet OF record" players ahead
Of him.
1t is a fact that Wagners willingness
to accept everything that comes his way
has season after season initiated against
his piling up a peerless record. But this
fact has not lowered him one whit In the
eyes of his admirers who know him for
the manner OF man he is, and appreciate
the fact that never in his life did he
sidestep ball hit in his general direc-
| ton.
| Wagner isn't going to last forever in
base ball OF course. But he still looks to
have a season or two OF major league
work in his worn out old system. And
OF action a million fans will say. There
when he departs forever from the scene
goes the greatest player the game ever
knew" And the estimate will be just
what 1t should be.