Evening star., 1960-08-16
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s7Auu
Fred Clarke and Honus Woqner

HONUS WAGNER MIGHT have been the greatest
baseball player of all time. John McGraw insisted that
he and did Ed Barrow. Although both may have
been based-McGraw being loyal National Lacquer and
Barrow the dscoverer of Wagnerpeope listened to their
arguments with respect they Babe Ruth or
Ty Cobb men,
Regardless of whether Wagner is rated first or not
Honus owed something to Frederick Clifford Clarke the
who died Sunday at age ST. Oh 1t worked both ways
Clarke owed Wagner much too. Each on his own
undoubtedly would have made the Hall of Fame But it
to their mutual benefit to have played and worked
together during most of their long distinguished careers
Clarke great balplayer in his own right. Bar
row. best known as the brain" of the Yankees during
their finest years. also discovered Clarke whom he in
sisted the finest competitive ballplayer he ever saw,
Cobb included Clarke had all the mechanical skils too
.315 average for big league career that Spanned
% seasons coseto-Speaker reputation for defense In
the outeld wonderful and the speed to steal 60
bases two occasions and eight times to swipe 80 or better
s*hS
NEARLY ALL BASEBALL men who go back long way
Clarke among the greatest Obviously he
destined to be leader. Bucky Harris, for example,
was called the boy Wonder when he became manager
of the Senators in 1924 Joe Crorn and Lou Boudreau
other hoy" managers
For the record Harris Cronin and Boudreau all were
older than Clarke who not yet Is when he managed
Louisville of the DID, 12team National League in 1897 1t
at Louisville that Wagner first came under Clarke
who left another legacy at his death In % years IN pro-
fessona baseball Clarke released as player or
manager.
Barrow after signing Wagner sent him to Clarke, who
first attracted Eds attention newsboy years earlier
when Barrow in the circulation department Of the
Des Mones Daily News Like many great players, Honus
good that it took him time to find position
He was superb outhelder, first baseman and even
used as pitcher before Clarke finally put him at
shortstop, which he to play better than any
before since
ON WAGNER'S FIRST time at bat for Louisville he
singled. The next time he drove a long, safe liner. 1t
should have been triple but Louisville playing the
old Baltimore Orioles famed in song and story for up-
gentee tactics
Jack Doyle gave me the hip going around first base
and like to knocked into rightfeld" Wagner later
recalled to the noted historian, Tom Meany when
crcled second had to pass Hughey Jennings twice-he
made go wide Then, when slid into third there
old John McGraw waiting for with the ball. And
he bounced the tag right off my kiSser."
Manager Clarke read the riot act to his big bow
legged, homely rookie You iron-headed Dutch
man. he roared Those the Orioles That's their kind
Of game. Are you going to stand there and take it?"
Later Wagner hit another clothesine between out
eders and this time he rounded first and sent Doyle
sprawlng Jennings cautiously gave way at second and
McGraw hit soidly by Honus slide even though he
had the throw beaten easily Clarke smiled his approval
~
WHEN THE OLD National League reduced to
eight clubs Clarke Wagner Deacon Philippe, Tommy
Leach, Rube Wadde and Chief thinner among the
Louisville stars transferred to Pittsburgh with Clarke
manager. And it there that Wagner was moved to
hortsop for keeps five years after arriving on the major
league scene.
Honus had learned a good deal from Clarke since he
first reported to Louisville where the veterans chased him
away from the plate during batting practice why y"
Clarke had asked him day, don't you take httng?
well, they won't let me-" the big easygoing Honus
answered.
Get up there and hit or get off the ball club Clarke
ordered
Wagner picked up a bat and began swishing it all
the way to the The veteran who occupying the
plate wisely chose to depart rather than risk being
beheaded.
CLARKE WON REMNANTS for the Pirates in 1901,
1902 and 1903 Along the Giants and Cubs to take
charge But in l909 the Iowan again and beat the
Tigers in the World Series.
Clarke's own debut in the majors probably was as
fabulous any in history In his first game with Louis
See WIN LOSE OR DRAW Page Ale