Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-01

Nm0nE the old timers Herman Long
was crack shnrtsior. Ifo PLAYED
With Boston and was one Of the most
sensational felders If all time He
executed impossible" PLAYS. He had
. good arm and was fair hitter and
base runner. While ] do not believe
Long was 50 good rs either Wagner
or Wallace who came Il trifie later,
still he was u kim. Ia his day
M"st Sensational Play
The most sensational play Ions
cN 81 iu..de. al least he one. that was
general. refeu.ed 10 ~ his most sen
sHti"nai occurred uu IL bui! hit oVc!
second base. Long went behind the
ba@ 10 cot tho haIl bur he feli There
~ not = chance 80 him roac1in- III"
kall with his hand but he did manage
{" reach il with his foot. Giving the
hall , lustv kick he sent it 10 the
econd haseman who was covering the
eMar and the ball reached him in time
to make a putout and earn an assist
for Long.
The most valuable play Long ever
made was in 1897. late in the season.
Baltimore and Boston We're going
neck and neck. Boston MS trying
hard 10 breal; the Orioles hold on the
championship, Baltimore having won
he penndnt three years IN succession.
~ | say. Boston and Baltimore were
hooked up in 1t crucial series i'll Balti-
more and the pennant depended upon
the outcome. Boston took the first
game and Baltimore he second. The
break of the sea son rested in winning
he third game. II vas loose con
test from The start Joe Cnrhett a
hrot her of James \. rorhetf former
heavvweight champion. started the
came for US. He was forced IN retire
N the first inning when d line drive
fIom Jake Stahls hat hit him on the
Stchinc hand
Hoffer who had pitched and won
lhe second game for us. was sent
in as relief pitcher. His luck was
not with him and he lasted only until
The sixth inning. Jerry Nops followed
but he had 10 he lifted in the eigth
and .tmole finished the game
The play In which Long figured
and the play that decided the game
came in the seventh inning. We filed
the bases and Jake Stencil our center
fielder At that time. was Al bat.
Stencil hit a sharp line drive just to
Tho right Of the regular shortstop
position. Long made a leap for the
ball and managed 10 get two fingers
N his bare throwing hand on the pill.
have never been able to figure out
he did. He came down in heap but
o. brew while lying on the ground. 1t
was u perfect throw 10 the second
baseman. resulting in double play,
and retiring the side. That play beat
us ont Of our fourth consecutive cham
piouShip.
Wagner is generally conceded To be
the greatest shortStop of all time. He
bad everything star shortstop
nj a. n
Il always called them a pair of hams
for obvious reasonsl. a wonderful
throwing arm. remarkable touch
~ base runners. He could so 10
his tight as we'll as he could go to
his loft and he threw accurately from
any position Add to these qualities
his astounding batting ability and his
speed on the bases. This speed was
amazing when one considered how
Wagner was built. squat and bow
legged.
Once Played Outfield.
lie was not always a shortstop.
lie started playing in the uutileld
and GOT into organized base ball only
because his brother WAS too lazy 10
play. 1T was his brother who was
wanted and To whom a contract was
sent but the brother did not care to
play ball regularly and turned the con
tract over TO ne more ambitions Hans.
He reported and started playing cen
terrified. But he preferred short and
7chooled himself into playing the posi-
ton. Wagner would come 10 the ball
park early in the morning and get
some boys to bat grounders to him.
He did not have money enough to buy
shoes and the ones they gave him
were too small and hurt his feet.
Wagner had to play in his stockings.
He could not start quickly because
The stocking feet did not grip the
earth. TO get d quick start Wagner
Mug trenches in which he planted him
Z elf lie got a firm foothold and was
Xa,.e 10 break quickly. In this way he