Lets see, you have a Shortstop that plays the position like Ozzie Smith and hits like Barry Bonds. But Honus could more than out-field all of them. Try again later. He only stood 511 and weighed about 200 lbs. Updates? 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. Wagner was born just outside of Pittsburg and given the name Johannes Peter Wagner by his German parents. He would pass away in Carnegie, Pennsylvania in 1955. Baseball historian and statistician Bill James named Honus Wagner as the second-best player of all time after Babe Ruth, rating him as the best major league player in 1900 and each year from 1902 to 1908. It was dedicated on April 30, 1955, and the then-frail Wagner was well enough to attend and wave to his many fans. During this period he served as manager of a sporting goods store and in other ways kept in contact with baseball. His love for baseball went far deeper than the money he made in the game. "I was a joke in that Boston-Pittsburgh Series. Note that mlb.com's Total Bases do not correspond to the number of hits, 2B, 3B, and HR listed. Wagner himself was not at full strength and hit only .222 for the series. A bronze statue of Mr. Wagner was unveiled in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh on April 30 of this year. Burleigh Grimes, who as a youngster was a teammate of Wagner, recalled One day he was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. 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. Mr. Wagner was brought back to his old team in an official capacity in 1933, when he was appointed a coach. One of the two most over-rated players since World War II (the other being Nolan Ryan). They participated in the first modern World Series in 1903 (they lost), came back to play Ty Cobbs Detroit Tigers in 1909 (they won). [32] In 1933, the card was first listed at a price value of US $50 in Jefferson Burdick's The American Card Catalog, making it the most expensive baseball card at the time. We are talking about the greatest teams ever. Butts persuaded his manager to take a look at his younger brother. - IMDb Mini Biography By: jefferson-3 Family (1) Spouse [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. When the Baseball Hall of Fame held its first election in 1936, Wagner tied for second in the voting with Babe Ruth, trailing Cobb. We have set your language to After browsing through the many items in the Honus Wagner Museum, makes sure to step into the Historical Museum of Carnegie next door. They know very little of the game prior to the 1950s. He would hit .252 in 1915 (still worthy of 7thin the League). Top 10 Baltimore Orioles of all time: Ripken at Number One? His batting feats were all the more remarkable since he had to contend with such obstacles as trick pitches, long outfields and a "dead" ball. 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. Wagner helped the Pirates to the first World Series title in their franchise history in 1909. The shortstop remained with the Pirates until he retired from active play in 1917 at the age of 43. The most famous baseball card ever printed is the Honus Wagner T206. 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? Oops, we were unable to send the email. Wagner, along with his famous baseball card, was one of the earliest athletes to make the crossover into pop culture film. The 1909 World Series that pitted the two giants against each other would not disappoint. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Honus Wagner (1065)? In 1999 the fans voted for the All-Century Team, their Shortstop again was Cal Ripken. He also retired with 722 stolen bases, which was the second highest total in major league history at the time. - John McGraw in The Sporting News (December 6, 1955), Appeared in The New York Times on December 6, 1955 | Obituaries | Honus Wagner, HONUS WAGNER DIES AT AGE OF 81_____________________________, Shortstop, one of Baseball Immortals, Made Mark With Pittsburgh Club_____________________________, MANY RECORDS STAND_____________________________, Played Most Games, 2,785 and Led League 8 Times - Lifetime Average of .328_____________________________. I'm sitting on the bench and my eyes are popping out. 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. Wagner also coached baseball and basketball at Carnegie Institute of Technology, which is now part of Carnegie Mellon University. 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. Wagner would outplay Cobb, going .333 on the series to Cobbs .231. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Looked helpless as a robin. In July 1915, he became the oldest player to hit a grand slam, a record which stood for 70 years until topped by 43-year-old Tony Prez. 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. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Top 14 Big Ten Quarterbacks of All-Time: Where does C.J. 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. Wagner and the Pirates declined together. Baseball has definitely improved in the last 100 years (integration being one of the biggest factors), but how much? There is a problem with your email/password. He had remarkably long arms, hams for hands, and just drew the ball to him. or Walter at number one? Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Baseball can be as controversial a topic as politics, especially when it comes to ranking the great players of the past and present. The 1930s Yankees tie them at .636. 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. If they said Cal Ripken Jr., the correct reaction is to shake your head in sadness. He led the National League seven times at bat and he was always up with the leaders when he was in his forties. The answer to this question is clear and unarguable. For people with similar names, see. Search above to list available cemeteries. For the next nine seasons, Wagner's average did not fall below .330. A very rare, recent photo sold on eBay further refutes the myth that Honus Wagner opposed tobacco. The current owner rents space to tenants, one of whom was home with his. Looking for more things to do in the area? Owner Barney Dreyfuss, who had purchased half ownership in the Pirates, took Wagner and many of his other top players with him to the Pittsburgh team. 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. Many of Wagner's descendants are also from the Pittsburgh suburb, including his nephew, Bill Gallagher, and niece, Marie. The Greatest Short Stop of All-Time is now mainly remembered for his baseball card, which is the most expensive. The character Mr. Burns lists three ringers he wants for his company's baseball team, but they are Honus Wagner, Cap Anson, and "Mordecai 'Three Fingers' Brown". Wagner was a resident of Carnegie (his house sits less than half a mile away from the museum) so the town is a logical spot to have a small museum in his honor. He still is regarded as the yardstick of excellence for shortstops. 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 is one of a handful of players that can legitimately be rated first, ahead of even Babe Ruth. The Americans, meanwhile, had some fans, called the "Royal Rooters" who, whenever Wagner came to bat, sang "Honus, Honus, why do you hit so badly?" "Why, that's Wagner," he says. In his final season he was made manager of the team, but the task was not to his liking and he gave it up after less than a week. Honus Wagner, byname of John Peter Wagner, also called the Flying Dutchman, (born Feb. 24, 1874, Mansfield [now Carnegie], Pa., U.S.died Dec. 6, 1955, Carnegie, Pa.), American professional baseball player, one of the first five men elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1936). Whats that player worth? Best Online Sports Books Reviews: How To Find The Right One. And the question of the greatest shortstop of all time is a clear example of that. At shortstop there is only one candidate, the immortal Honus Wagner. That is way too low. The figures on Baseball-Reference.com are as follows. Ogden Nash, Sport magazine (January 1949)[29]. It was at this position that Mr. Wagner performed for the greater part of his twenty-one consecutive years of major league service, from 1897 through 1917. And, while this isnt a large space, there are a ton of things packed into it. Whereas Wagner, with his unassuming ways, quiet dignity and homespun humility endeared him to the baseball community. "[33] These discrepancies were taken advantage of by "card doctors" who trimmed corners and dirty edges to improve the appearance of the card. Wagner debuted with Louisville on July 19 and hit .338 in 61 games.[10]. Good enough to be put in the Babe Ruth category. 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. I told him I wanted to be a major league baseball player, a genuine professional like Honus Wagner. The following story is probably false. . We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Following the 1899 season, the NL contracted from twelve to eight teams, with the Colonels one of four teams eliminated. He led in almost every significant category through those years. Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals "Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for (An excerpt chapter from the book,Boxing In The Time Of Christ,$5.99 atamazon.com.) All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. I dont even know what it means to be sick. The bandy-legged, barrel-chested star of the early part of the century, had been in ill health for the last several years._____________________________. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He only led in one category and that was his 6 errors on the series. Top 10 All-Time Greatest Mexico vs Puerto Rico Fights, Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia: Leaders of the New School, Not a super fight, but Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia is compelling, Mike Tyson: Monster or Myth? Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. 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. Please try again later. He had a lifetime mark of .328, hit more than .300 in seventeen consecutive seasons. After retirement, Wagner served the Pirates as a coach for 39 years, most notably as a hitting instructor from 1933 to 1952. 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. Prior to 1904, Wagner had played several positions but settled into the shortstop role full-time that season, where he became a skilled fielder. Try again. In 1936, he was among the first group of stars named to baseball's Hall of Fame. In all my career, I never saw such a versatile player." 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. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. In a 10-year period they won four League Titles. Wagner was born one of 9 children in the heart of American coal country in western Pennsylvania on February 24, 1874. The front of all T206 series cards, including the Wagner card, displayed a lithograph of the player[34] created by a multi-stage printing process in which a number of colors were printed on top of each other to create a lithograph with the appropriate design. The same card had been previously auctioned for $657,250 in 2014 and $776,750 in 2016. He never was a hold-out. Good enough to make a mockery of any modern Short Stop. 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. His lifetime fielding mark was .945, and he was first among the National League shortstops in 1912, 1914 and 1915. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Wagner was not finished playing baseball after his retirement from major league baseball. [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]. As an offensive player, he played in a high run environment, so his numbers need to be discounted quite a bit. I never have been sick. He would play for the Colonels until they were dissolved in 1899. A public campaign had provided the $30,000 needed for the statue. He retired from the sport in 1917 and is still recognized as one of the premier players of all time. This awkward walking, quiet talking Short Stop of the Pirates was a wonder to behold in the field. That seems to be about as successful as Wagners Pirates 20 years earlier. 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. Especially playing in his hometown, Wagner represented what his city was. Wagner recounted: "We had him out at second. Cobb was a fierce and feisty on the baseball diamond and looked the part of star athlete, where Wagner did not. Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Joyce vs Zhang: Can Joe Zap Zhang and Continue his Climb? In 1910, Wagner's average fell to .320, his lowest average since 1898. 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. Recognizing that Wagner should be playing at the highest level, Barrow contacted the Louisville Colonels, who had finished last in the National League in 1896 with a record of 3893. But the Cobb-Wagner rivalry was one of the best all-time. Honus Wagner AKA John Peter Wagner Born: 24-Feb - 1874 Birthplace: Carnegie, PA Died: 6-Dec - 1955 Location of death: Carnegie, PA Cause of death: unspecified Remains: Buried, Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Pleasant Hills, PA Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Baseball Nationality: United States We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. Try again later. 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron, 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan, The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History, The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans. [38][39] Wagner had been at the top of his game throughout the decade and was even considered the game's greatest player at the time. Vaughn played in the high run 1930s, so he matches up well. Wagner was born just . 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.". Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Notwithstanding his stolid appearance, he is a sensitive player, and this has hurt him more than anything else in his life ever has. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Quoting from The Baseball Biographical Encyclopedia: There probably has never been a more genuine, honest, decent, and beloved ballplayer than Honus Wagner. Raised just outside Pittsburgh, he became the face of the city for the first half of the 20thcentury. Caught Stealing is not shown comprehensively for Wagner's MLB.com totals because the stat was not regularly captured until 1920. PITTSBURGH, Tuesday, Dec. 8 (AP) - John (Honus) Wagner, one of baseball's greatest shortstops died today at his home in near-by Carnegie. This article is about the American baseball player. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. By his second season, Wagner was already one of the best hitters in the National League although he came up short a percentage point from finishing the season at .300. Baseball, Summertime, Bats. Wagner retired with the National League record for most steals of home (27), which was broken by Greasy Neale in 1922. In 1903, the Pirates played the Boston Americans in Major League Baseball's inaugural World Series. He went hitless in a 10 win against the Cubs on May 30, but a successful league protest by the Cubs wiped out the result (and Wagner's at-bats). He would stand beside Cobb, Mathewson, Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth. 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. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Throughout his career one of the outstanding features about Mr. Wagner was his vitality. For comparisons; Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were teammates for ten years (1925-1934), they won four pennants (1926, 1927, 1928, 1932) and three World Series (1927,1928,1932). The 1920-1929 Yankees had Hall of Famers; Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Earl Combs, pitchers Waite Hoyt and Herb Pennock. In 1900 the National League circuit was reduced from twelve teams to eight and Mr. Dreyfuss bought the Pittsburgh franchise, taking Mr. Wagner with him. This museum chronicles life in the community, and even if you have no connection to the area, its interesting to learn about what life was like in this part of Allegheny County (including why the community was named after industrial tycoon Andrew Carnegie). The 1900-1909 Pirate had three Hall of Famers; Fred Clarke, pitcher Vic Willis and Honus Wagner. What are boosted odds in sports betting strategies? 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). He was well-known to people in the community, including many that still have memories of their interactions with him as children. English 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 . You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Help spread the word. His league record of eight batting titles was finally tied by Tony Gywnn in 1997. Most fans only know what ESPN or modern baseball announcers tell them, but Wulf doesnt have that excuse. For the rest of his life when asked about the incident Wagner would only wink and neither confirm nor deny the story. Thanks for your help! Bill James ranks Wagner as the best player in baseball every year between 1900 and 1908 except 1901 (Nap Lajoie, in an expansion league, Wagner was the best player in the National League). Mathewson, Christy. One of the sad things about sports commentary now is a lack of historical perspective. 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.. Deposit required. Returning in June, he was spiked in July and played only sparingly for the remainder of the year, batting .265. Wagner and the Pirates were given a chance to prove that they were not "yellow" in 1909. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. to the tune of "Tessie", a popular song of the day. With the dissolvement of the Colonels, the initially unimpressed club president, Barney Dreyfuss, became president of the Pittsburg Pirates. (Note that this home is privately owned, so please only view it respectfully and from a distance). 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. GREAT NEWS! However, it seems exactly who used it and when is lost to time, but there is at least a chance that it was used by Wagner himself. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world. Finally, family history researcher, the seasons are changing. This account has been disabled. 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 . He led the league in stolen bases and had 722 steals on his career. $1000/month annualized, Honus Wagner, p. 272:10000, 2/24/17 SL: $8,000. Wagner managed the Pirates briefly in 1917, was a coach on the team from 1933 to 1951, and remained a popular figure in Pittsburgh. Learn more about merges. "He's the best third baseman in the league.". cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Phone: 602.496.1460 Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. His appearances at National League stadiums during his coaching years were always well received and Wagner remained a beloved ambassador of baseball. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Unsurprisingly, the ATC asked for Wagner's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. An outgrowth of baseball greatness is of course baseball card greatness, and in . In 1916 he would marry his long-time girlfriend, Bessie Baine Smith. This nickname was a nod to the popular folk-tale made into a famous opera by the German composer Richard Wagner. 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. "Hans" was also an alternate nickname during his major league career. Another highlight of the visit is the chance to hold a 1910s era Honus Wagner brand bat that is said to be game-used.