Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 228, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1915 — TOP NOTCHERS IN MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TOP NOTCHERS IN MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUES

Who is the greatest ball player Jn the game today? This question has been asked thousands of times and has caused innumerable arguments and yet remains unsettled. It is almost certain to remain undecided, as experts, newspaper writers and baseball men are unable to agree, writes Oscar C. Reichow in Chicago News. National league men think that certain players in their organization surpass those in the American league, while men in the latter body believe they possess the best in. the game.

Hans Wagner, Johnny Evers, Mordecai Brown, Frank Chance, Ty Cobb, Joe Jackson, Tris Speaker, Ed Walsh, Eddie Collins and Hal Chase have been referred to at some time or other as being the star of all ball players. Fans, and men connected with the game, who admire one of these men still are of the opinion that he is the leader of the lot. Wagner, Cobb, Speaker, Collins and Jackson have probably the strongest right to the reputation owing to their ability to hit, field and run bases. Roger Bresnahan of the Chicago Cubs, who is regarded as one of the smartest ball players in the National

league, paid Hans Wagner a big compliment when he declared that the Pittsburgh shortstop is the greatest ball player the game has ever had and ever will have. Bresnahan does not think baseball ever had a man of Wagner’s ability, and does not think there will ever be a player who will play the game as he has played it for 17 years. The Cub manager Is so strong in his belief that he declared he would not give Wagner for five Cobs, Jacksons Or Speakers. “I have watched Wagner for 17 years and in that time have never seen him make a mistake and no one else has. He started to play the same year I did and because of his natural ability I took an interest in him and watched his work closely. I must say in all truthfulness that I have never seen him do the wrong thing. That may be putting it rather strong, but it is the truth. I have talked with men who have been with him for years and they have told me the same. Tommy Leach was on the Louisville club with Wagner and also at Pittsburgh, and he will confirm what I say. Fred Clarke and Gibson will say the same. They have yet to see him blunder in a play.”*