The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-06-25
f35s?'I1l!l
rl1tE]te,;''
I2!1.tIR1
l1&

nwENTY YEARS \ STAR in
the National league. and
starting on his 2ist season.
That's the record OF Hans Wag.
ners. the Honus OF the Pittsburg
club.
Only two men in baseball his
tory have done more years OF base-
baliing. Cap Arson was up there
- years: Napoleon Laioie was
star for Fl years. The return OF
the famous Pittsburg player means
that before he quits the diamond
he will have equaled. or perhaps
eclipscd. the stretches left by
those other stars.
wagner's record shows a greater
total OF hits and runs than ever
was scored by another player.
Even Arson and iaJoie. with their
longer terms OF service. rank be
hind him In these two columns.
His last year before deciding to
retire 1.-THE Bernhard or Patti
kind was his poorest on the
paths. but his batting showed an
Improvement over the few years
Just previous He confided. while
going thru the rigors OF the last
campaign. that his eyes we're dim
ming considerably. and that his
legs wouldn't carry him as far as
they formerly did
II expected TO lose speed gradu.
ally" he complained. but don't
see why most OF the strength
shouldn't stay"
Playing on the camp ground OF
the Pittsbnrg baseball field prob
ably was 20 blame for this. lie
developed rheumatism. which both
ers him TO great extent in the
early spring and late fall.
A BASEBALL CLUB without at
least one star pitcher would be an
absolute joke as a champion OF
one Of the two major leagues.
Ranging back over history dis-
closes the fact Every one Of the
many clubs which have risen 10
heights and refrigerated Is featur.
ed By at least one harler OF star
proportions Since the American
league came into being this fact
has been even more pronounced.
Inspect the record OF the Chi
cago White Sox % 1906. one OF the
most remarkable worlds cham.
pionship feats In the games an
nails Ed Walsh was Just about
the entire exhibition in those days.
with the able assistance OF DR..
White.
The obstreperous Braves pre-
sent an identical case. with forgot
ten Bill James the mainstay OF
their endeayors.
Connie Mack had his Jack
Coombs. his Eddie Plank. and his
Chief Bender. Christy Mathewson
added grace and impetus to the
Giants payroll Joe Wood drew
much money. both In the payroll
and at the gate. while he was do
ing championship duty for the Red
Sox Wild Bill Donovan. Ed Reul-
bach. Nordecai Brown, Philippe.
Babe Adams. Grover Alexander.
jeff Prefer. all have had their
Hing at fame az stars who have
boosted clubs almost individually
into a worlds series cut
The one-man feature rests with
nearly every club. They all have
some man around whom defense
or offense Is conferred
IF YOU WERE TO ASK Us
what is the matter with Walter
Mails, we are ready to admit that
we would throw up our hands In
despair and grope vainly for an
answer. Outside OF the fact that
he IL a southpaw there seems to be
nothing wrong with Walter. II
seems that despite reports TO the
contrary. he Is determined to stay
end twirl for the ShIpbuilders
here rather than 20 back to Port
land and try to win his way back
TO the big show.
Several of Walters admirers and
vell-wishers have been whispering
advice TO him but he IL keeping
back out OF the spotlight and let.
ting the rest OF them do the talk.
lnG