Before a sold-out and boisterous Forbes Field crowdi, future Hall of Famer Honus Wagner "had his bat working overtime,"2 producing seven hits (in two games) as his Pittsburgh Pirates split a doubleheader with the visiting New York Giants. Wagner himself was not at full strength and hit only .222 for the series. Also, if youre going to discount Wagner because of his era, then players such as Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker and Babe Ruth should not be considered either since they all were active during Wagners time. It took all 7 games to decide the winner. Honus had his last big seasons in 1911 and 1912, winning his final batting title in 1911 and finishing second in the league in RBIs the next year. He held the bat with his hands apart to be able to pull balls to the foul line. The Wagners, who was pregnant when he retired, would lose their first baby who was stillborn. Wagner took over the batting lead from the New York Giants' flamboyant outfielder Mike Donlin during a July 25 game against the Giants and their star pitcher Christy Mathewson. He retired from the sport in 1917 and is still recognized as one of the premier players of all time. Now, this choice was not as outrageous as Wulfs, because this was a fan vote and Ripken was winding down on a brilliant career, but they also placed Ernie Banks second. Baseball Almanac presents the actual word-for-word transcript from the obituary of Honus Wagner, taken from The New York Times. Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. Starting from January 1909, the ATC sought authorization from baseball players for inclusion in the T206 series, which featured 524 major league players, 76 of whom were later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Its worth noting right up front that you shouldnt come here expecting to see items that Wagner used during his playing career (unlike the Roberto Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh). Learn more about managing a memorial . Baseball, Summertime, Bats. He led the league in stolen bases and had 722 steals on his career. Bessie would then have 2 daughters and their oldest Bessy would give them their only grandchild, a daughter. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. The card came with Sister Virginia Muller's brother's handwritten note: "Although damaged, the value of this baseball card should increase exponentially throughout the 21st century! The Pirates won the series in seven games behind the pitching of rookie Babe Adams. Wagner debuted with Louisville on July 19 and hit .338 in 61 games.[10]. During his term as coach of Pittsburgh, Mr. Wagner also served for several years as commissioner for the National Semi-Pro Baseball Congress, in which capacity he had jurisdiction over 25,000 sandlot teams. Honus Wagner: Baseball's Prototypical Five-Tooler? The backs of the cards featured the monochromatic colors of the 16 tobacco brands for which the cards were printed. Christy Mathewson, in his book "Pitching in a Pinch" wrote: "For some time after "Hans" Wagner's poor showing in the world's series of 1903 it was reported that he was "yellow" (poor in the clutch). Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/WagnerHonus_009.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, Nuclear Powered Baseball: Articles Inspired by The Simpsons Episode Homer At the Bat, http://research.sabr.org/journals/young-and-old-home-run-hitters. This accomplishment, however, came during a down period for Wagner and Pirates. He also retired with 722 stolen bases, which was the second highest total in major league history at the time. He was the first winner of 'The World's Championship Batsman' 's Cup, in 1908, made by Welshman George "Honey Boy" Evans. This was 1905. Fellows like Marion, Bancroft, Peck and Billy Jurges were all great fielders. His baseball card was so rare that it became the highest priced baseball card of all-time. The definitive question in my family of weeding out knowledge sports fans from yuppies is, Who is the greatest Shortstop of all time?. 1917-09-17 Honus Wagner, retires at 43, Pirates retire his #33. We kept the squawk going for a minute or so, making no headway of course, and then Cobb spoke up. Honus Wagner, a Family History Researcher and Baseball The man on the legendary and most valuable baseball card, Honus Wagner, comes to life as RecordClick's professional genealogist Joan Shurtliff hits it out of the park with a look at his family and his ancestry. #shorts. Throughout his career one of the outstanding features about Mr. Wagner was his vitality. Especially playing in his hometown, Wagner represented what his city was. For about two decades, J. Ross Greene kept a deep, delightful secret. The same card had been previously auctioned for $657,250 in 2014 and $776,750 in 2016. Wagner played for the short-lived Louisville Colonels franchise from 1897 through 1899, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Honus Wagner (1065)? Top 10 Dirtiest Coaches in College Football History, Forget Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia - Joe Cordina vs. Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov was the fight of the weekend. Card of the Day: 1936 R312 Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughan I'm sitting on the bench the first day I reported, and along about the third inning an opposing batter smacks a line drive down the third-base line that looked like at least a sure double. Best Online Sports Books Reviews: How To Find The Right One. Both museums are housed within the historic Husler Building, which was built in 1896 according to the numbers in the stonework, and are free to visit (though donations are appreciated). His contributions to a winning team: The Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900 until 1909 had a record of 938-538, a .636 winning percentage. Although in recent years Mr. Wagner remained confined to his home in Carnegie, honors continued to be showered upon him. How to Win While Sports Betting? The 1930s Yankees tie them at .636. He repeated the feat in 1902, 1907, and 1909. That is certainly what the club president and club secretary for the Louisville Colonels thought when they first saw him. The Top 15 Biggest Hits in NFL History (With Video), Beckham signs with Ravens without assurance of Jackson as QB, 2023 NFL Mock Draft 3.0 - The Trades Mock, Top 10 Indiana Hoosier Football Players of all-time. _____________________________ Ranked Among the Immortals He never was a hold-out. Bill James cites Wagner's 1908 season as the greatest single season for any player in baseball history. Honus Wagner - Wikipedia LEOMINSTER DAILY ENTERPRISE, Massachusetts, December 6, 1955 This 12 page newspaper has a two column headline on page 6: "HONUS WAGNER, ALL-TIME GREAT SHORTSTOP, DIES AT 81 NEAR PITTSBURGH" Other news of the day including a report on the upcoming fight involving Sugar Ray Robinson late in his career. Johannes Peter "Honus" Wagner (/hns wnr/ HON-s WAG-nr; February 24, 1874 December 6, 1955[1]), sometimes referred to as Hans Wagner, was an American baseball shortstop who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1897 to 1917, almost entirely for the Pittsburgh Pirates. As a child, he was called Hans by his mother, which later evolved into Honus. Lets get to why Wulfs conclusion is foolish. The following spring, he refused to send his portrait to a "Hall of Fame" for batting champions, citing his play in the World Series. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Michael Haupert research of HOF contracts. In 1916, Wagner became the oldest player to hit an inside-the-park home run. Wagner lived the remainder of his life in Pittsburgh, where he was well known as a friendly figure around town. The numbers shown below are the figures officially recognized on MLB.com. $1000/month annualized, Honus Wagner, p. 272:10000, 2/24/17 SL: $8,000. But still the lore continues on. About 25,000 were on hand to witness the pair of contests.3 In the opener, Wagner had two singles, a double, and a stolen base, and he scored two of his . Wagner is mentioned in the poem Line-Up for Yesterday by Ogden Nash. Only Ruth exceeds that number (10). The mild-mannered Wagner had beat the feisty, upstart Cobb down. NBA Playoff Preview: Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Series Preview and Prediction! The portion of the museum dedicated to Honus Wagner is located in a single room off to the side of the main space. Wagner was offered a $20,000 contract by the Chicago White Sox, but turned it down and continued to play with the Pirates. He was famous for being a Baseball Player. Check out the Civil War Room at the Carnegie Library, the waterfall in Settlers Cabin Park, tours of PNC Park, and the Heinz History Center. Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Bill James is the most knowledgeable person on baseball I know. Ty Cobbs legacy has been challenged of late, but Cobb even then was not a particularly beloved individual. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 9 Biggest Potential Draft Busts in the 2023 NFL Draft, Top 10 Biggest NFL draft busts of all time. Successful Sports Betting Tips, Arky Vaughan (39) 1935 & Robin Yount (39) 1982. Wagner waited for the ball, swung his arm down and smacked Cobb across the face, taking out teeth some say. The Baseball 100: No. 12, Honus Wagner - The Athletic One of the strong players in the game in his active days, he weighed 180 pounds and was 5 feet 11 inches tall - he possessed an amazing vigor, even after he had passed 60 and he often set the pace for his youthful charges in the pre-game workouts of the Pirates. [22] He returned to the Pirates early in the 1908 season, and finished two home runs short of the league's Triple Crown, leading the league in hitting (for the sixth time) hits total bases doubles triples RBI and stolen bases. When the National Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class in 1936, he received more votes than any other player, including Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Christy Matthewson and Honus Wagner . The Pirates have relocated twice since then, and the statue has come along with them. Phoenix, AZ 85004 In 1898, Wagner won a distance contest in Louisville by throwing a baseball more than 403 feet (123m). 1936-01-29 1st players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson & Walter . * - we have multiple sources with different salaries. Wagner was by this time 35 years old, Cobb just 22. In 1900 he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates and helped lead them to National League [NL] titles from 1901 to 1903 and to a World Series victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1909. His league record of eight batting titles was finally tied by Tony Gywnn in 1997. W is for Wagner,The bowlegged beauty;Short was closed to all trafficWith Honus on duty. Honus Wagner Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac He would steal 6 bases while Cobb only took 2. There was a problem getting your location. After gaining prominence on the sandlots while earning his livelihood as a barber, Mr. Wagner broke into professional baseball in 1895 with the Steubenville (Ohio) club. The current owner rents space to tenants, one of whom was home with his. Wagner was part of the Pittsburg Pirates greatest season, going 110-42 in 1909. But it needs to be shared here or we would be leaving out part of the aura of the two players. Death 6 Dec 1955 (aged 81) Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. This notebook contains stories of their memories of Wagner, and reading these stories is a great way to get a feel for his private life and his impact on the community. Hall of Fame skipper John McGraw called Honus Wagner "The nearest thing to a perfect player no matter where his manager chose to play him.". Good enough to make a mockery of any modern Short Stop. Well, this big Louisville third baseman jumped over after it like he was on steel springs, slapped it down with his bare hand, scrambled after it at least ten feet, and fired a bullet over to first base. "A stirring march and two-step", titled "Husky Hans", and "respectfully dedicated to Hans Wagner, Three-time Champion Batsman of The National League" was written by William J. Hartz in 1904. Wagner lived in Carnegie until his death in 1955. In 1936, he was among the first group of stars named to baseball's Hall of Fame. The "Flying Dutchman" sobriquet, fastened on him by the fans, was indicative of the dash and speed he displayed on the field and on the baselines. That same year, he was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team by the oversight committee, after losing out in the popular vote to Cal Ripken Jr. and Ernie Banks. In September 1905, Wagner signed a contract to produce the first bat with a player's signature, the Louisville Slugger, becoming the first sportsperson to endorse a commercial product;[13] the Honus Wagner was to become a best-seller for years. Probably my favorite thing in the room, however, was a notebook with written memories about Honus Wagner. Copyright 1999- Mr. Wagner was an immediate success at Steubenville and the next year advanced to the Paterson, N.J. club of the old Atlantic League. [23], The Pirates hosted the 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Forbes Field. "I was too bum last year", he wrote. Stroud rank? Whereas Wagner, with his unassuming ways, quiet dignity and homespun humility endeared him to the baseball community. Honus Wagner Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Honus Wagner Stats Honus Wagner was born on Tuesday, February 24, 1874, in Chartiers, Pennsylvania. In 1999, 82 years after his last game and 44 years since his death, Wagner was voted Number 13 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Players, where he was again the highest-ranking shortstop. by Dave Studeman. Butts persuaded his manager to take a look at his younger brother. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? Unsurprisingly, the ATC asked for Wagner's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. First here is a list (using James win shares) of the ten best seasons by a Shortstop in baseball history he lists it here: 10. Wagner won his eighth (and final) batting title in 1911, a National League record that remains unbroken to this day, and matched only once, in 1997, by Tony Gwynn. The Historical Society of Carnegie History Center houses the Honus Wagner Sports Museum which includes many Wagner collectibles and memorabilia. He retired on a Pirate pension in 1951 and two years later the locker he had used as a player and coach was shipped to the baseball shrine at Cooperstown, N.Y. At the turn of the century the bat-manufacturing concern of Hillerich & Bradsby conceived the idea of having major league ball players endorse their product with the players autographing their particular models, Mr. Wagner was the first to have his autograph appear on one of these bats. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. On June 9, 1914, at age 40, Wagner recorded his 3,000th hit, a double off Philadelphia's Erskine Mayer, the second player in baseball history to reach the figure, after Cap Anson, and Nap Lajoie joined them three months later. That seems to be about as successful as Wagners Pirates 20 years earlier. It was dedicated on April 30, 1955, and the then-frail Wagner was well enough to attend and wave to his many fans. In 1928, Wagner ran for the office of Sheriff of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, but lost. His biography on BaseballBiography.com describes his gritty style: Bowlegged, barrel-chested, long-limbed he was often likened to an octopus. For the next nine seasons, Wagner's average did not fall below .330. He was 81 years old. The stamp was issued as part of a "Legends of Baseball" series that honored 20 all-time greats in conjunction with MLB's All-Century team. TOP 7 QUOTES BY HONUS WAGNER | A-Z Quotes What does it profit a man to hammer along and make a few hits when they are not needed only to fall down when it comes to a pinch? The 1909 World Series that pitted the two giants against each other would not disappoint. He was 81 years old. We have set your language to One of the two most over-rated players since World War II (the other being Nolan Ryan). On the occasion of his eightieth birthday in 1954, he was deluged with greetings, one of them from President Eisenhower. Pennsylvania Center for the Book There is a problem with your email/password. Caught Stealing is not shown comprehensively for Wagner's MLB.com totals because the stat was not regularly captured until 1920. He lived out the remainder of his life at home in Carnegie and passed away on December 6, 1955. The reason for this is that of all the positions on a baseball field this has the clearest answer, but you really have to know the history of baseball to get the correct answer. "I name Wagner first on my list, not only because he was a great batting champion and base-runner, and also baseball's foremost shortstop - but because Honus could have been first at any other position, with the possible exception of pitcher.