Evening star., 1953-06-19

after hitting safely in A straight games The year was 1897
and by coincidence Keelers record for years.
until Joe Daggio hit through string of 56 games in 191
It still stands the second-longest streak just Keel
ers 4S2 batting that second only to Hugh
Duffy's al-tme .438
keller MUST HAVE BEEN remarkable hitter because
his record outstanding Without taking anything
from Daggio his longer string KeelerS streak
must DiMagS because Keeler swinging
corkcenter live and frequently replaced ball. Willie and
the other oldtmer hitting dead, often misshapen,
SCARED and rk-colored balls.
Keeler played 16 years big league ball before he fell
below .SOO although in his first two he little
action Willie only 20 when he started belonged to New
York in 92 and to New York and Brooklyn in 49, But it
wasn't until he Joined the Orioles then in the National League
that he started his march to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame
her recent book, "The Real McGraw" the widow Of
the famed manager recalls the acquisition Keeer by
more The very best arrived at Macon Ga in late March
of 1894" Mrs McCraw writes "and his William
Henry Keeler Brooklyn He batted efthanded and he
held his bat with wde-apart grip that enabled him to
control the heavy push ball in any direction He
had dark beady twnklng eyes that had no equal for
accuracy"
3,
IN FIVE YEARS WITH the Orioles, Keeler never hit
lower than 367 and his peak in e7
the greatest enjoyed by player old modern In
addition batting 432 he set record Of 243 hits of which
singles record because he played In only 1913
games wasn't until the next year. 1885, that the 154game
schedule introduced STILL only Cobb ssler Hornsby Al
Simmons Bill Terry and Lefty ODoul made more than
Keelers 243 hits over the longer season.
One day during Wllie's big Jack Doyle hit four
singles doubles Not to be outdone Keeer hit five
singles and triple 1t the first and only time in history
that players got six hits apiece in single And
both the team, too!
Willie was mite physique sort of Phil Rzzuto play
ing outed and not considered of the rowdier
Orioles Rather his fame rested his featS plus
rated explanation offered when asked for the secret
of his batting success.
"Et where they aint" Willie replied. It has always
been felt here that others have with more historic
utterances, but Keeer's has outlived virtually all.
JOHN McGRAW'S ADMIRATION for Keeler nearly
boundess he did not regard Willie the greatest player
lived That accoade he reserved for Honus Wagner
When the great opinion relayed to Honus the
old shortstop good natured warm person cucked
happily. he didn't get much kick out of this
tribute from characteristic McGrawism. After
Wagner had pulled smart play against McGrawS Giants
day. John snarled: you're pretty damn smart for
Dutchman at that"
Earlier in his when Wagner thirdyear man
obviously star still ascending Honus had another
perence with McGrawS players In those hardboed days
rockies other players pushed aside by
their teammates at batting practice One day McGraw
Giant hit home against Wagners team AS he rounded
the bases Wagner said, appreciativey: "Nice hit"
go to hell" growled the Giant
Later recalling the incident Wagner said: 81 liked that
remark the first major Lacquer to speak to
But If Keeler wasn't quite Wagner in allaround ability,
he something very special Mrs Mcraw writes of her late
husband batting 1926 in 1897 and says John wasn't Willie
Keeler he had lots of company, for else