The Alaska daily empire., 1915-12-14
HANS WAGNER MAY
 BECOME MANAGER

Christey Mathewson thinks that old Hans Wagner win be the new leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates. succeeding Fred Clarke. Honus is hositating about taking the job but Matty says he thinks he will take O chance and also that he will make good.
 "Back after the 1909 season. both Wagner and Fred Clarke wanted to re- tire from baseball,' writes Matty. "Each thought he had been In the game long enough and each knew he was getting old. Both were satisfied financially Clarke with his big ranch in Kansas. and Wagner with his place in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Tho Pirates had just won the worlds championship, and the two veterans and side partners of long standing would quiet baseball on the crest of the baseball wave.
 "Clarko at that time sak ahead the aging of his machine which had just won for him and the fight to build up another. He did not think he desired Co devote that much more time to the game. Clarke did not honestly believe the ball club which won the worlds championship in 1909 could repeat. He was right. He went Co Barney Dreyfuss.
 Pair Wants TO Cult
 Boss" he said. "Honus and ] are going to quit"
 'You can't leave me now," answer. cd Dreyfuss Stay one year more anyway. want you both with the club next season when we will be known as the worlds champions"
 Clarke and Wagner finally consent ed to stick. And they have kept go- ing ever since Clarke had to quit the regular lineup, and this worried him. He Is not the type of leader who likes to manage from the bench.
 'I can't get the best results from the bench, Matty," he told me one day last season.
 So Clarke decided he had had enough Of baseball after this last season and resigned No manager has been appointed at this writing Honus thought of quitting the game with Clarke ] am told
 Honus' legs have been bad for some time. The damp ground at the old Exposition track on the river bank got into Wagner's bones several years ago, and have known him to play when every step he made was like jumping toothache in his legs. He is one of the gamest in baseball.
 Wagner has been switched around from one job to another in the past few years, trying to ease the strain, and he has been out Of the game good deal This bothers him. He likes Co be in there all the time, and he does not realize he does not carry the same powers of resistance he did ten years ago. He han the same old heart
 Wagner's batting eye has not dimm- ed much. He can still sting the ball with the best in the country but his legs have failed him. When Drey- fuss heard that Honus was thinking seriously of quitting with Clarke he rushed to tho biz shortgtop and be- gan his plea with him. Wagner then agreed to stick
 l doubt # he would ever have quit anyway. so long as he could get in there, for we an think we will leave baseball flat someday, but every one of us keeps coming back for more until they finally throw ms into the discard.
 Has Manaoer's Qualities
 Wagner is worrying whether he can become good manager. be- Hove ho would make a grand loader. for ] know his qualities pretty well, and he has those a manager needs.
 He is game to the core. That is essential He has a strong heart and defeat does not discourage him. He knows baseball as few men in the country know it. l rate Wagner in class with Evers and Cobb and Collins and even McGraw when it comes Go knowing the fine points of the game.
 Honus has the knack of taking young player and getting baseball out of him. ir there is any talent lurking. He has turned out man after man for Clarke this way.
 Of course the old fellow will be up against a tough proposition in Pitts burgh, for he will practically have to build club himself
 PRESIDENT WILSON