Evening star., 1923-02-18
He North American Newspaper Alliance. }

Hans played the outfield just as
well as he did short, but it was much
harder to get good infe1der than an
outfielder. That is why ] said an out
be compared to Wagner. He had other
qualifications just as great.
Held Record for Throw.
fans to know that for a long time
Wagner also held the worlds unof-
hciai record for making the longest
throw. While playing first base for
Louisville. Wagner took part in
benefit game in October 1888 AS a
a field contest in throwing and run
ming. Wagner made throw of 134
yards foot and inches.
On account Of the unofficial nature
of the judging this record was not
recognized in the books, but he made
it just the same. That throw broke
the record made by Hatfield Of the
Mutuals exactly twenty six years be-
fore to the day. Hatfields throw was
1913 yards foot 7l2 inches.
1f you can visualize the length OF
that throw you can appreciate what
heave ii was. Roughly speaking, 1t
was about from The centerfield fence
at the Polo Grounds to the plate.
Records do not tell the story of
Wagner, They merely help. 1t was
base ball sense. his actions on the
field. These things cannot be ex-
pressed in figures.
Batfed .34s for Il, Years.
have before me Wagner's batting
record from the time he began in
1897 up 1910. In those thirteen
years he had "a batting average OF
.34S. He didn't stop there by any
mems. After that, though. he grad
no 1ty hac 70 Sln I, he
had his toughest rivalry. To lead the
National League IN hitting he had to
top an average of 1913 by Elmer
Flick and 1856 by Willie Keeler. He
did so by hitting $50.
Hans Wagner was also blessed with
that peculiar thing which. for bet
ter name. we will call personality.
There was something magnetic about
him. He was just as popular in one
city as another. Even in the smaller
He was great drawing card.
Whether the home team won or lost,
the fans wanted to see Wagner.
There are so many instances Of his
greatness that / could mention. space
prohibits me going into them. 1t so
happens that ! have with me a clip
ping from sport column edited by a
young man named Wright out in
Omaha. 1t is good Illustration of
what everybody thought. He says. in
part:
A Typical Wagner Feat.
i've just seen the worlds greatest
ball player and that goes as II lays
Hans Wagner saw Wagner
AT his best. playing against Chicago.
TO win meant to clinch first place.
In the first. with one Cub out
and men on first and second. Hoffman
hit the ball a mile minute over sec
ond. seemingly for hit Wit ten
foot leap, crouching close 10 the
ground. he tore across the diamond
and fairly hurled himself on the ball
as il was passing. With one move
ment, seemingly. he tossed the ball
to second. where Miller received it
and whipped it to first. turning back
Hoffman and completing as dazzling
a double play as I ever saw
Mr.. Wright points out that Wag
ner's great hands made il possible for
him to do things with the ball that
were impossible for most men. And
he was correct.
Yes, Wagner was the greatest of all
players. / intend to put him on my
all-American champion team for all
time. which I will present in a later
chapter.
: Copyright, 1928 Z. S. and Canada, by Christy
Walsh Syndicate