"[42], On April 20, 2012, a New Jersey resident purchased a VG-3 graded T206 Wagner card for more than $1.2 million. The answer to that question is an article upon itself. Dreyfuss and Clarke were not impressed with the awkward-looking man, not surprising, as Wagner was oddly built: he was 5ft 11in (1.80m) tall, weighed 200 pounds (91kg), and had a barrel chest, massive shoulders, heavily muscled arms, huge hands, and incredibly bowed legs that deprived him of any grace and several inches of height. Baseball has definitely improved in the last 100 years (integration being one of the biggest factors), but how much? Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Derek Jeter? Especially playing in his hometown, Wagner represented what his city was. Good enough to be put in the Babe Ruth category. The 1909 World Series that pitted the two giants against each other would not disappoint. Bill James says that Wagner is easily the greatest shortstop of all time, noting that the difference between Wagner and the second greatest shortstop, in James' estimation Arky Vaughan, is roughly the same as the gulf between Vaughan and the 20th greatest shortstop. . Wagner played for five teams in that first year, in three different leagues over the course of 80 games. 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. Returning in June, he was spiked in July and played only sparingly for the remainder of the year, batting .265. 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. He only stood 511 and weighed about 200 lbs. For the rest of his life when asked about the incident Wagner would only wink and neither confirm nor deny the story. The current owner rents space to tenants, one of whom was home with his. That blew away the previous record . 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 has been considered one of the very best all-around players to ever play baseball since the day he retired in 1917. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. Honus Wagner. Wagner is mentioned in the poem Line-Up for Yesterday by Ogden Nash. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Also known as: Flying Dutchman, John Peter Wagner. He was well-known to people in the community, including many that still have memories of their interactions with him as children. Mr. Wagner was brought back to his old team in an official capacity in 1933, when he was appointed a coach. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. As well as the best base runner. Prior to 1904, Wagner had played several positions but settled into the shortstop role full-time that season, where he became a skilled fielder. 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. Copyright 1999- Try again later. Total Baseball player ratings rank Wagner as the best player in baseball every year between 1903 and 1909. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Visitors receive replicas of the famous card. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. His love for baseball went far deeper than the money he made in the game. Wagner was part of the Pittsburg Pirates greatest season, going 110-42 in 1909. Following his brother, Wagner trained to be a barber before becoming successful in baseball. Neither of us got our wish. Honus Wagner. On four occasions Honus Wagner "stole for the cycle" meaning he stole second, third, then home all during the same inning a baserunning feat only matched by one other man in baseball history, Ty Cobb. The great shortstop, weakened by age, saw the unveiling from an automobile parked near adjacent Forbes Field, where he had played for the Pirates half a century before. He retired from the sport in 1917 and is still recognized as one of the premier players of all time. He only led in one category and that was his 6 errors on the series. In 1969, on the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, a vote was taken to honor the greatest players ever, and Wagner was selected as the all-time shortstop. Top 10 Baltimore Orioles of all time: Ripken at Number One? And the next decade of baseball would belong to him. Thanks for your help! And it also turned out that while Honus was the best third baseman in the league, he was also the best first baseman, the best second baseman, the best shortstop, and the best outfielder. 50 Copy quote. Wagner was part of the first ever World Series in 1903 when his Pirates from the National League challenged the winners of the American League Boston Americans (now the Red Sox). [41], A near mint-mint condition T206 Wagner card sold in 2007 for $2.8 million, the highest price ever for a baseball card. Defensively his large hands came to his advantage as gloves were still in their early phases at the turn of the century. About Honus Wagner. He also ran a well-known sporting goods company. Ty Cobb himself called Wagner "maybe the greatest star ever to take the diamond". Top 16 Centers in College Basketball History: Alcindor, Russell, or Walton at Number one? And, while this isnt a large space, there are a ton of things packed into it. Bill James cites Wagner's 1908 season as the greatest single season for any player in baseball history. Not only was Honus Wagner a significantly better offensive player than these fine Shortstops, but he was the best defensive Shortstops of this group. 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. Ty Cobb: The truth about the greatest baseball player of all-time, MLB: Why We'll Never See a 300-Game Winner Again. 1918, stillborn), Betty Baine (19191992), and Virginia Mae (19221985).[7]. In 1992 Sports Illustrated did a piece written by Steve Wulf titled The All-Time Dream Teams. The Shortstop on his baseball team was Cal Ripken. A public campaign had provided the $30,000 needed for the statue. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. During my travels, Im always on the lookout for unique museums to visit, so when I heard that there was a Honus Wagner Museum near Pittsburgh, I knew I had to check it out. 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. or Walter at number one? [12] In August 1899, he became the first player credited with stealing second base, third, and home in succession under the new rule differentiating between advanced bases and stolen bases. "He's the best third baseman in the league.". You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. The Wagners, who was pregnant when he retired, would lose their first baby who was stillborn. The Rooters, led by Boston bartender Michael "Nuf Ced" McGreevy, even traveled to Pittsburgh to continue their heckling. His assistant has to point out that they are not only retired but long-dead Anson having played in the late 19th century. Mr. Wagner was born in Carnegie, Pa., on Feb. 24, 1874. In addition, he led his league in stolen bases in 1901, 1904, 1907 and 1908. Note that mlb.com's Total Bases do not correspond to the number of hits, 2B, 3B, and HR listed. The shortstop remained with the Pirates until he retired from active play in 1917 at the age of 43. This 1936 card designated as the R312 . "[15], Wagner was distraught by his performance. Please reset your password. [43], On April 6, 2013, a 190911 T206 baseball card featuring Honus Wagner sold at auction for $2.1 million. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Honus Wagner I found on Findagrave.com. [40] He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, gunpowder, and soft drinks. "Pitching in a Pinch." In desperation, owner Barney Dreyfuss offered him $10,000 per year, making him the highest-paid Pirate for many years. Mr. Wagner was modest and good natured. He had served continuously with the Pirates ever since, the sight of his rugged bow-legged figure on the field awakened nostalgic feelings among the old-timers in the stands. Search above to list available cemeteries. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. Caught Stealing is not shown comprehensively for Wagner's MLB.com totals because the stat was not regularly captured until 1920. For about two decades, J. Ross Greene kept a deep, delightful secret. Failed to report flower. He also led the Majors in on-base percentage four times, slugging 6 times, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, and RBIs. Wagner debuted with Louisville on July 19 and hit .338 in 61 games.[10]. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Shortly before the 1908 season, Wagner retired. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. As Bill James says in his Arky Vaughan comment in his book The New Historical Baseball Abstract: The difference between the number one Shortstop (Wagner) and the number two Shortstop (whoever it is) is about the same as the distance between the number two Shortstop and the number 30 Shortstop.. He played all over the field for his first few seasons until the acquisition of Tommy Leach who convinced him to play Shortstop so Leach could play 3rdkept him in the middle of the infield the rest of his career. He was the first winner of 'The World's Championship Batsman' 's Cup, in 1908, made by Welshman George "Honey Boy" Evans. What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? But still the lore continues on. These include just about every imaginable type of item that features Wagners image, ranging from coffee cups to bobbleheads. The proudest moment of his life was being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in its inaugural year in 1936. [22] Wagner, by this point, was an established star and much was expected of him, especially since the Pirates' starting rotation was decimated by injury. _____________________________ Ranked Among the Immortals He was appointed as a deputy of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office in 1942. He led the National League eight times, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1911. Whereas Wagner, with his unassuming ways, quiet dignity and homespun humility endeared him to the baseball community. The Cobb-Wagner rivalry has become something of folklore and the more time passes it becomes forgotten folklore. Wagner, agile though massively built, excelled at fielding; he also led the National League five times in stolen bases. I dont even know what it means to be sick. A bronze statue of Mr. Wagner was unveiled in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh on April 30 of this year. Nevertheless, he aged exceptionally well; the three highest OPS+ seasons by any shortstop aged 35 or older belong to Wagner, and even his age-41 season ranks eighth on the list. Lets just say its not enough to get any other Shortstop close to Honus Wagner. Wagner was rated 10th. But it needs to be shared here or we would be leaving out part of the aura of the two players. But the Cobb-Wagner rivalry was one of the best all-time. 1916-07-01 Pittsburgh shortstop Honus Wagner, at 42 and 4 months, connects at Cincinnati to become the oldest to hit an inside-the-park HR; Pirates beat Reds, 2-1. One of the sad things about sports commentary now is a lack of historical perspective. Butts persuaded his manager to take a look at his younger brother. Wagner is honored in the form of a small stadium residing behind Carnegie Elementary School on Washington Avenue in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Wagner was invited to be an honorary coach for the National League squad, the first time this honor was bestowed in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game.[24]. With the opening of the 1954 season at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, the Pirates as part of the inaugural day ceremonies presented a special plaque to Wagner as baseball's Mr. Shortstop. Why the Movie Hoosiers was Nowhere Near as Good as the True Story of Milan 1954, Memphis Grizzlies provide injury update on Ja Morant, Top 10 Greatest Shooters in Indiana Hoosier Basketball History, Top 10 Most Disappointing Losses in Indiana Hoosiers Basketball History, Top 10 Indiana Hoosier Basketball Wins of all time, MLB All-Time Steroid Team: Position by position, with a Few Backups. With the Colonels he would play first, second, third and hit .299 (it would be the last time he would hit under .300 for 16 years in the big leagues). Acknowledging that there may have been one or two whose talents were greater, there is no one who has ever played the game that I would be more anxious to have on a baseball team., Top 20 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 12 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. Mr. Wagner also was one of the noted batsmen of his day, and many of the records he set are still on the books. 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. The bandy-legged, barrel-chested star of the early part of the century, had been in ill health for the last several years. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Wagner helped the Pirates to the first World Series title in their franchise history in 1909. Honus Wagner Birth Name: John Peter Wagner Occupation: Baseball Player Place Of Birth: Chartiers, PA Date Of Birth: February 24, 1874 Date Of Death: December 6, 1955 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: White Nationality: American Honus Wagner was born on the 24th of February, 1874. Please play responsibly. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. They won the National League Pennant in 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1909. In 1999 the fans voted for the All-Century Team, their Shortstop again was Cal Ripken. The figures on Baseball-Reference.com are as follows. He was well-known to people in the community, including many that still have memories of their interactions with him as children. Wagner recounted: "We had him out at second. Remembering Honus Wagner. I just let my bat speak for me in the summertime. 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. update=copyright.getFullYear(); The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, by Bill James, The Free Press, 2001, pp. Family members linked to this person will appear here. That was in fielding. While sources allege that Wagner, a nonsmoker, refused to allow the production of his baseball card to continue, the more likely reason was the sum ATC was willing to pay Wagner. He would steal 6 bases while Cobb only took 2. This time, Wagner could not be stifled as he outhit Cobb, .333 to .231, and stole six bases, establishing the new Series record. How to Win While Sports Betting? A right-handed batter and thrower, Wagner had a bulky physique for his erahe stood about 6 feet (1.83 metres) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg)and had unusually long arms. Who is this man? On the occasion of his eightieth birthday in 1954, he was deluged with greetings, one of them from President Eisenhower. He was famous for being a Baseball Player. Tommy Morrison burst onto the professional boxing scene in 1988. Vaughn played in the high run 1930s, so he matches up well. PITTSBURGH, Tuesday, Dec. 8 (AP) - John (Honus) Wagner, one of baseball's greatest shortstops died today at his home in near-by Carnegie. Wagner was not finished playing baseball after his retirement from major league baseball. Be this as it may, there have been or are now no serious challengers to Mr. Wagner in his generally accepted designation as baseball's greatest shortstop. [27], Christy Mathewson asserted that Wagner was the only player he faced who did not have a weakness. They know very little of the game prior to the 1950s. Here is all you want to know, and more! Biography Johannes Peter Wagner, named for his father, was born on February 24, 1874. In 1932, the Pirates struck gold again at shortstop, bringing in rookie Arky Vaughan, who many consider the second best shortstop ever behind Honus Wagner. Leaders of the machine-led Republican Party were touting Wagner for sheriff of Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh. 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. Wagner and Cobb would go hunting that off-season in Georgia. He was 81 years old. For the bowlegged man from coal country, he was pretty fast on his feet. memorial page for Honus Wagner (24 Feb 1874-6 Dec 1955), Find a Grave Memorial ID 1065, citing Jefferson Memorial Park, Pleasant Hills, Allegheny County . A 1942 Sporting News poll of 100 former players and managers confirmed this opinion, with Wagner finishing 43 votes behind Cobb and six ahead of Ruth. Top 12 Greatest Home Runs in MLB History! [23], The Pirates hosted the 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Forbes Field. Finally, family history researcher, the seasons are changing. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Phone: 602.496.1460 He hit for average and power and could change the dynamics of a game on . [6], In 1916, Wagner married Bessie Baine Smith, and the couple had three daughters: Elva Katrina (b. Conclusion: If I was selecting the greatest player of all time, the list would be: Ill quote Bill James again from the original Historical Baseball Abstract. (Wagner) was the greatest athlete in baseball. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. 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. Thats better than the 1920s Yankees, the 1940s Cardinals, the 1950s Yankees, the 1970s Reds, or the 1990s Yankees. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Cal Ripken (1984) is tied for tenth with another Wagner Year (1901) and two Alex Rodriquez seasons (2000, 2001) at 37. After browsing through the many items in the Honus Wagner Museum, makes sure to step into the Historical Museum of Carnegie next door. The medias negative attention about the greatest player in the game would haunt Wagner. Fellows like Marion, Bancroft, Peck and Billy Jurges were all great fielders. Barrow proved to be a good talent scout, as Wagner could play wherever he was needed, including all three bases and the outfield. Throughout his career one of the outstanding features about Mr. Wagner was his vitality. Highlights of this portion of the museum include a fantastic model of the town in the 1940s and their military room which tells the story of several prominent veterans from the area. You're awesome for doing it! He repeated the feat in 1902, 1907, and 1909. The most famous baseball card ever printed is the Honus Wagner T206. In 1928, Wagner ran for the office of Sheriff of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, but lost. The mild-mannered Wagner had beat the feisty, upstart Cobb down. Well, Honus hit a line drive so hard the fence in left field went back and forth for five minutes.. The statue roughly faces the site of the Pirates' original home, Exposition Park, so in a sense, Wagner has come full circle. I don't make speeches. [48], On August 3, 2022, a T206 Honus Wagner was sold in a private sale for a sports card record high of $7.25 million, eclipsing the previous high of $6.6 million.[49]. In various emergencies, he filled in at other spots, in fact, playing every position except catcher. Wagner was 5-for-5 in the game; after each hit, he reportedly held up another finger to Donlin, who went hitless, and who had just beaten runner-up Wagner by a wide margin in a "most popular player" poll. The runner was out by two or three steps. Bill James is the most knowledgeable person on baseball I know. In 1936, he was among the first group of stars named to baseball's Hall of Fame. Some cards were awkwardly shaped or irregularly sized, which prompted a belief that many of the cards in the series had been altered at one point or another. [47], In August 2021, another example sold for $6.6 million exceeding the previous high for most valuable sports card at the time. The portion of the museum dedicated to Honus Wagner is located in a single room off to the side of the main space. Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States and the country was still trying to heal from the Civil War that had ended just 10 years prior. Over parts of 21 major-league seasons, all with Louisville and the Pirates, Wagner batted .328/.391/.467 (151 OPS+. Wagner was born just . To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. When the Baseball Hall of Fame held its first election in 1936, Wagner tied for second in the voting with Babe Ruth, trailing Cobb. In 1910, Wagner's average fell to .320, his lowest average since 1898. Wagner managed the Pirates briefly in 1917, was a coach on the team from 1933 to 1951, and remained a popular figure in Pittsburgh. We have set your language to 548549. [31] The ATC ended production of the Wagner card and a total of only 57 to 200 cards were ever distributed to the public, as compared to the "tens or hundreds of thousands" of T206 cards, over three years in 16 brands of cigarettes, for any other player. He never was a hold-out. "He was clearly among the better-fielding shortstops of his time, just not an all-time great." Bill James, though, in his New Historical Baseball Abstract, wrote, "Wagner was among the greatest defensive players in the history of baseball." James's . Sorry! Honus Wagner was the most beloved man in baseball before Babe Ruth.
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