The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-17

5,
 The answer is John P. (Honus) W
 That is the easiest question l have had to answer. In my mind there is no doubt about Hans Wagner topping them all, past or present. I believe that ninety-n out of every hundred baseball men, if asked that question would make the same reply.
 Of course, realize the greatness of Ty Cobb, of Rogers Hornsby and George Sisler, Iris Speaker and Will lie Keeler. Not one of them, though, can show the many qualities or the combination of many qualities pos- sessed by Wagner.
 Wagner Versatile
 Generally the dispute or argument is over comparison of Ty Cobb and Wagner. Remember, to begin with, that Cobb is an outfielder. On the ether hand, remember that Wagner was not only a great outfielder and hitter but was also the marvel of his way in the infield He could play any position in the infield and play itI well--better, perhaps, than anybody
 
 trying, I believe he could have pitched a good game. As catcher, he would also have been great. Wag- ner had one of the greatest throwing arms ever known to baseball The size of his immense hands made 1t almost impossible for a ball to ge. away from him once it got within reach.
 So uniformly good was Wagner as q player that it is almost impossible | to determine whether his highest point of superiority lay in his field ing, in his batting or in his base running. He was topnotcher in all.
 BasebaIPs Sixth Sense
 In addition to his natural ability to do most everything better than most players could do mechanically he had what might be called sixth sense of baseball He loved the game, often played it for pure amusement. He thought in terms of baseball and had an uncanny faculty of being able to think where the batter would hit a certain kind of ball. Instantly he would be on top of it and get his man. Instinctively he knew how the different batters hit. and remem- bered. It came perfectly natural to him to move in either direction, ac-
  throwing a curve or fast ball. In completing double plays he never had an equal.
 It was rarely that Wagner ever made a bad throw to first, and he could throw from most any position. On the field he seemed awkward as he spread himself, but every muscle In his body worked in perfect CO., l ordination.
 Played With Boys An instance of his love for the l game: One day several of us were walking about the park near the Schenley hotel in Pittsburg. At that time we stopped out there so as to l be near the park. We still do, for l that matter.
 A crowd of boys had started game down in a vacant lot. A big, bulky fellow stopped to look them 1 over. He got very much interested and asked to get In the game. They let him go to bat With two on bases he hit hard wallop for his side. Then the boys discovered who l he was.
 Isn't that old Honus down there?" some one in our party asked. l Sure enough it was. Not satisfied with having played hard game l against the Giants he had gone into | that kid game and was playing his head off When the little fellows dis covered his identity they insisted on his signing his name to the ball he 1 had hit. The demand was so great that Hans had to get some more balls the next day and present them to the | youngsters.
 Wagner started out in the big 1 leagues with the Louisville club when 1 the National was 12-club organ 1 ization. At that time I was in Balti- more. Very few of the modern day fans know that Wagner was great outfielder. Also that he was a great first baseman. At other times he played as an all around man.
 Went to PittsburK The Louisville players were taken to Pittsburg by Barney Dreyfus when the league was cut down to eight teams, and Wagner went along as an I outfielder Later he was shifted to short, and it is in that position that most fans remember him. Any one seeing Wagner play short could never | forget him.
 Hans played the outfield just as well as he did short, but it was much harder to get a good infielder than an outfielder. That is why I say an outfielder, no matter how great. can not be compared to Wagner. He had other qualifications just as great.
 It may be surprising to modern day fans to know that for a long time Wagner also held the worlds unofficial record for making the longest throw. While playing first tase for Louisville, Wagner took part in a benefit game in october. 1898. As curtain raiser to this game there was a field contest in throw ing and running. Wagner made a throw of 134 yards l foot and s inches On account of the unofficial nature of the judging this record was not recognized in the books, but ne made 1t just the same. That throw l broke the record made by Hatfield Of the Mutuals, exactly 26 years be- fore to the day. Hatfields throw was 13s yards, l foot, 71a inches. Record Throw
 If you can visualize the length of that throw you can appreciate what hcave it 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. It was