The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-14
HANS WAGNER SIGNS FIRST
CONTRACT TOPLAY BASEBALL

team. He played the infield. 1 was
pitcher. On that same team were
two great ball players who after
ward played with me in the big
league. They were Claude Richie,
the second baseman of the Pirates
later, and Harry Smith, the old
catcher.
When the break -up came the Steu-
benville team moved to Akron, Ohio,
where we played on the Butchel col
lege grounds. There We lasted just
three days when the club broke up
again. 1t seemed like 1 never would
get that thirty-five dollars coming
regular.
But there were big doings in the
three days we lasted. The Wagner
brothers got two home runs each day.
Still, Al was the most famous.
"Honus," AL said to me as the team
broke up, i've got a job offered me at
Mansfield Ohio. I've just agreed to
take one at Canton"
(which one you want me to take"
| asked, knowing what he meant.
"As ! am going to Canton you'd
better take that job down at Mans
field and play as AL. We got to hold
both those jobs"
The thought of doing anything
wrong never entered our heads. They
did all kinds of things like that then:
So 1 went to Mansfield and stayed
Il IL.
All around town they were talking
about that fellow, AL Wagner, having
chance to be a great ball player
Everything would have been all right,
at that, 1 reckon, If we hadn't for
got to figure on what we would
Mansfield
Then They Both Showed Up.
There was a lot of trouble and mix
ups about All Wagner when Canton
and Mansfield booked up. Each team
had what was supposed to be the same
AL Wagner. When it developed that
Mansfield and Clanton both had one,
each crowd claimed their Wagner as
the real one. We had to do all kinds
of explaining. 1t so happened that
we both played we'll anc We were
allowed to get away with the decep-
ton. I forgot to say 1 played third
base for the Manefield club and was
throwing so hard l almost Knocked
down the first baseman.
All this time l was studying base
ball hard. The platers used to wonder
how kid like me could remember
the faults of all the different players.
also remembered my own faults.
Often | would go out in the morning
and practice to overcome these faults
and also to try and initiate some good
player ! had seen.
The manager and owner noticed
that l was studying the game serious
ly. Remember, | wasn't quite 81 yet.
AT the end of the month-the time
when I really got my pay-the owner
sent me up to Adrian, Michigan, TO,
manage a team. He had asked who
would like to manage ball club and
Of course, I figured it out that such
job would just suit me. The owner
was Mr.. Taylor, hardware man. I
understand he has been very success
full since.
This Adrian team was in the Michi-
gan State league
AS young manager l lasted three
weeks. I had all kinds of trouble. In
the first place 1 found the pitchers
were not SO good, or rather that they
did not have their heart in their
work.
We had negro pitcher who had
a lot of stuff. The other pitchers
wanted him fired, but he was the only
one who could win for me. The others
all claimed to have sore arms and
all such alibis as that. They were try
ing to run sort of boycott.
A Cure For Sore Arms.
l wanted to win those ball games
and as the colored boy was the only
one to do the pitching I sent him
in: He won, too In few days the
others gradually lost their sore arms
and came back one at a time.
reckon | was little too young
to be a manager. / worried right
smart about my responsibilities AT
the end of three weeks l got mighty
homesick. just couldn't stand to be
away off there by myself. I mopea
around and after awhile was really
sick. If you've never been homesick
you don't know how. terrible the feel
ing is.
Finally / decided I couldn't stand
RI iot,
brother, AL. He was glad to see me,
of course. Gee, you don't know how
l perked up.
Right away AL got busy and figured
out job. He sent me to the War
rem Pa, team of the Iron and OH
league. Again signed contract for
S35 month and my board while
away from home.
I was getting to be a pretty good
ball player by this time. 1t was really
the beginning of my career. That
Warren club turned out the greatest
of any team in all baseball history.
On that team with me were these
who afterward played in the major
league:
Joe Rickert, Boston; Harry Smith.
Pittsburg; Al Wagner, Brooklyn;
Claude Richie Pittsburg; Carrick
New York. There were one or two
others whose names I can't remember
That will illustrate what l meant
when l said there We're more great
ball players in proportion to the
number engaged than there are to-
day. Just think of that many ball
players jumping direct from a little
bush team right into the big league
yes and making good. every pnt
of them
Tomorrow, Sizing UP the Players.