Evening star., 1955-11-30
WIN, LOSE OR
DKAW By FRANCIS sTANN
So Well Remembered

- IN THE COURSE of his so years in baseball, which
included that period from 1920-1945 when he made the
veloped unshakabe conviction Hans Wagner the
greatest ballplayer Of all time.
Barrow stated so fatty. He would brook argument.
As he put it in his own words:
Babe Ruth was the games greatest personality and
s greatest homerun hitter Ty Cobb the greatest
of all hitters though have always had tremendous
admiration for Larry Lajoe and consider him only step
behind Cobb the greatest batsInan of all
But there is question that Wagner the greatest
an-around ball player who lived"
Not much hope is held for John Peter Wagner
the familiar Hans or Honus-to his fight life
But he doesn't beat the rap he won't forgotten in
hurry No than Clark Griffith and Cy Young who
passed not long after they like Wagner had passed
their 8oth birthdays.
BARROW, BUILDER OF the Yankees essentially was
an American Lacquer and had been Ruths man 1t was
he who converted Ruth from great pitcher into greater
hitter But Barrow it who less discovered
Wagner That is he talked Honus into playing ball for
living instead of working in the mines in the barber
shop pool hall that belonged to his brother Thus Barrow
had roofing interest in each and If he says Wagner
the greaterand greate-t must be assumed Barrow
speaking impartially.
Ruth and Cobb the late leader Of the Chants had agreed
with Barrow. As old third baseman Mcraw may have
reasoned that nelder especially shortstop mean
so much more to team defense than outfelder.
The fact Is that Wagner was more than shortstop.
He could play all the ined positions and the oued with
equal facility the early historians agree matter Of
record, wagner big leaguer years beIOre
Manager Fred Clarke Of the Pirates made him permanent
shortstop Since he wasn't teenager when he began
In pro ball Honus about % at that time.
This IS late date to begin shorstoppng career so
outstanding that whenever qualified baseball pick all
time teams they arbitrarily Wagner at short and
on 70 some other position.
b BACK IN 1885, sitting on the porch Of small inn at
Coopersown, some Of the Hall Of Fame od-ttmers were
chewing the fat with newspapemen who asking
for their versions Of atme players Larry Laioie said:
You know except for Ruth and Cobb there's only
other man. Wagner. who is unanimous People bubble
the pitchers cacers t basemen and FORTH but never
about those three"
II can think Of lot Of other great shortstopss said
reporter, $50 Wagner must have been good"
Walter johnson was there. You weren't born when
Wagner at his best" he said There wasn't anything
he couldn't dohit, run and field I'm glad he stayed on
his side of the fence tthe National League)"
The reporter, who had known Wagner slightly because
OF his connection with Pittsburgh COACH said when
see him wonder how he could fast those
bow legs. never such bow legs"
"Find any old catcher nnelder outfelder who had
to throw out Wagner and ask him. Lajoie advised Hell
tell you If he could run"
THE RECORD BOOKS ten the story-not only Of how
Wagner could but do everything ese-as eoquently
any human voice During his 2l-year career Honus
eas bordered the incredible Seventeen straight
he batted 800 better and he 40 years
before he dropped below that figure Between 1900
1911, he led the National League In hitting eight times
four times in succession Defensivey his skill is 50 well
remembered by old timers that whenever praise heaped
Travis jackson Marty Marion they merely smile
and say:
"But you should have seen old Hans"
Only three players In history stole bases than
Wagner, they being Cobb Max Cafey and Billy Hamilton
the latter excluded from modern baseball Hans averaged
better than S. stolen bases per
ave years and finished with T2O
Until couple Of years ago. Wagner the oldest
man in uniform. He was frankly pensoner, although
listed Pirate coach, but he survived many manager
and change OF ownership. He was Hans Wagner,
that's why, and pleasant companonabe old gaffer too
who asked would try to help kid improve his batting
fielding or base running bit
But most Of all he served the function of stirring the
memories Of vanishing generation which would sigh:
All but you should have seen old Hans"