Honus Wagner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Honus Wagner
Wagner in 1903
Shortstop
Born: (1874-02-24)February 24, 1874 Chartiers Borough, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: December 6, 1955(1955-12-06) (aged 81) Carnegie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
July 19, 1897, for the Louisville Colonels
Last appearance
September 17, 1917, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average	.328
Hits	3,420
Home runs	101
Runs batted in	1,732
Stolen bases	723
Teams
As player Louisville Colonels (1897–1899) Pittsburgh Pirates (1900–1917) As manager Pittsburgh Pirates (1917) As coach Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1951)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1909) 8× NL batting champion (1900, 1903, 1904, 1906–1909, 1911) 4× NL RBI leader (1901, 1902, 1908, 1909) 5× NL stolen base leader (1901, 1902, 1904, 1907, 1908) Pittsburgh Pirates No. 33 retired Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame Major League Baseball All-Century Team Major League Baseball All-Time Team
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1936
Vote	95.1% (first ballot)

Honus Wagner, born Johannes Peter Wagner on February 24, 1874, was an amazing American baseball player. He played as a shortstop for 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. People called him "the Flying Dutchman" because he was so fast and had German roots. Wagner was known as a "five-tool player" because he could do everything well. He was a great defender with a strong arm and could play almost any position. He was also excellent at hitting for both average and power. Many consider him the greatest shortstop ever. In 1936, he was one of the very first players chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Who Was Honus Wagner?

Honus Wagner was a legendary baseball player whose career spanned from 1897 to 1917. He was famous for his incredible skills in all parts of the game. He could hit, run, throw, and field with the best of them. His talent made him a superstar in the early days of baseball.

Growing Up and Starting Baseball

Honus Wagner was born on February 24, 1874, in what is now Carnegie, Pennsylvania. His parents, Peter and Katheryn Wagner, were immigrants from Germany. Honus was one of nine children. His mother called him Hans, which later became the nickname Honus. When he was 12, Honus left school to help his father and brothers work in the coal mines. In their free time, he and his brothers loved playing baseball in empty lots. They became so good that three of his brothers also became professional players. Honus's older brother, Albert "Butts" Wagner, helped him get his first chance in baseball. Before becoming a baseball star, Honus even trained to be a barber! In 1916, Honus married Bessie Baine Smith. They had two daughters, Betty Baine and Virginia Mae.

Becoming a Professional Player

Honus's baseball journey began in 1895. His brother Albert, who was also a player, helped him get a spot on a team. In his first year, Honus played for five different teams across three leagues. He showed amazing talent, playing in 80 games. In 1896, a scout named Ed Barrow saw Honus play. Barrow was so impressed that he brought Honus to his next team, the Paterson Silk Weavers. Honus was incredibly versatile, meaning he could play almost any position on the field. He played at first, second, and third base, and even in the outfield. He was a great hitter too, batting .313 in 1896 and an even better .375 in 1897.

Joining the Louisville Colonels

Honus Wagner playing for the Paterson Silk Sox in 1897.

Honus's talent quickly caught the eye of bigger teams. In 1897, he joined the Louisville Colonels, a team in the top league, the National League. At first, some people weren't sure about him because of his unique build. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds, with a strong build and bowed legs. But a team official convinced them to give him a chance. Honus proved them wrong, hitting an impressive .338 in his first 61 games. By his second year, he was already one of the league's best hitters. After the 1899 season, the Colonels team was dissolved. Their owner, Barney Dreyfuss, bought part of the Pittsburgh Pirates team. He made sure to bring Honus and many other great players with him to Pittsburgh.

Starring with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Honus Wagner in 1897.

Joining the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900 was a turning point for Honus. He quickly became one of the best hitters in the league. That year, he won his first batting championship with an amazing .381 average. He also led the league in doubles, triples, and slugging percentage. For the next nine seasons, his batting average never dropped below .330! Other teams tried to sign him, offering a lot of money, but Honus stayed loyal to the Pirates. By 1904, he became the full-time shortstop, a position where he truly shined. People said his huge hands and long arms made him look like an "octopus" when he fielded ground balls. He could throw a baseball over 400 feet! Honus was also known for his speed, stealing bases often. In 1905, he became the first athlete to have his signature on a commercial product, the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat. In 1908, after a brief retirement, the Pirates' owner offered him $10,000 a year, making him the highest-paid player on the team. He returned and had one of his best seasons, leading the league in many hitting categories.

World Series Heroics

Honus Wagner played in two exciting World Series during his career. These were big championship games that tested the best teams.

The 1903 World Series Challenge

Honus Wagner in 1910.

In 1903, the Pirates played in the very first World Series against the Boston Americans. Honus was a big star, and everyone expected a lot from him. However, he wasn't at his best and only hit .222 in the series. Some Boston fans even made up a song to tease him about his hitting. The Pirates ended up losing the series. Honus was very disappointed with his performance. He felt ashamed and said he didn't want his picture in a "Hall of Fame" for batting champions because he didn't play well when it mattered most.

Winning the 1909 World Series

In 1909, Honus and the Pirates got another chance to prove themselves in the World Series. They faced the Detroit Tigers, led by another baseball legend, Ty Cobb. This was a special matchup because it was the only time these two great hitters played against each other in the World Series. Honus, who was 35, played much better this time. He outhit Cobb, batting .333 compared to Cobb's .231. Honus also stole six bases, setting a new World Series record! The Pirates won the series in seven games, bringing home their first World Series title.

Later Years on the Field

Honus Wagner in 1914.

Even as he got older, Honus Wagner remained a fantastic player. In 1910, his batting average was .320, which was still excellent. He continued to play at a high level, even into his late 30s and early 40s. On June 28, 1914, at age 40, Honus achieved his 3,000th hit. He was only the second player in baseball history to reach this amazing milestone. In 1915, he became the oldest player to hit a grand slam, and in 1916, the oldest to hit an inside-the-park home run.

Honus Wagner in 1915.

Honus played his final season in 1917. He briefly served as an interim manager for the Pirates but decided coaching wasn't for him. He retired as the National League's all-time hit leader with 3,418 hits. It took 45 years for another player, Stan Musial, to break his record. Many baseball experts and players, like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, consider Honus Wagner one of the greatest players of all time.

Life After Playing Baseball

After his incredible playing career, Honus Wagner stayed involved with baseball and his community.

Coaching and Community Work

Honus Wagner as a Pirates coach, around 1940.

Honus Wagner continued to serve the Pirates as a coach for 39 years, from 1933 to 1952. He was especially known as a hitting instructor. He helped many future Hall of Fame players, like Arky Vaughan and Ralph Kiner, improve their skills. During his coaching years, he wore uniform number 14, which he later changed to his famous number 33. This number was eventually retired by the Pirates in his honor. Honus was a beloved figure and a great ambassador for baseball. He also coached baseball and basketball at Carnegie Institute of Technology. In 1942, he was appointed as a deputy for the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office. He also ran a well-known sporting goods company in Pittsburgh for many years. In 1944, Honus was invited to be an honorary coach for the National League team in the 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This was the first time such an honor was given in the All-Star Game. Honus Wagner lived the rest of his life in Pittsburgh and passed away on December 6, 1955, at the age of 81. He is buried in Jefferson Memorial Cemetery.

Honus Wagner's Lasting Legacy

Frank Vittor's statue of Honus Wagner at PNC Park.

Honus Wagner's number 33 was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956.

When the Baseball Hall of Fame held its first election in 1936, Honus Wagner was among the very first players chosen. He tied with Babe Ruth for second place in the voting, just behind Ty Cobb. In 1969, on the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, Honus was selected as the all-time shortstop. Many experts still rank him as one of the top players ever. Famous pitcher Christy Mathewson once said that Honus Wagner was the only player he faced who had no weaknesses.

Honored in Film and Art

Honus Wagner's fame extended beyond baseball. He appeared in a 1919 film called Spring Fever. He has also been shown in movies like The Winning Season and Cobb. A special march and two-step song, "Husky Hans," was written for him in 1904.

Honus Wagner's locker on display at the Hall of Fame.

A life-size statue of Honus Wagner swinging a bat stands outside PNC Park, the Pirates' current stadium. It was first dedicated in 1955 at Forbes Field, the Pirates' old home. The statue has moved with the team and now faces the site of their very first ballpark. In his hometown of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, a small stadium behind Carnegie Elementary School is named in his honor. The Historical Society of Carnegie History Center also has a Honus Wagner Sports Museum with many of his collectibles. In 2000, Honus Wagner was honored with a U.S. postage stamp as part of a "Legends of Baseball" series. The popular TV show The Simpsons even mentioned Honus Wagner in a 1992 episode.

The Famous T206 Baseball Card

The rare Honus Wagner card issued by the American Tobacco Company.

The T206 Honus Wagner baseball card is one of the rarest and most expensive baseball cards in the world. Only about 57 copies are known to exist today. This card was made by the American Tobacco Company (ATC) between 1909 and 1911 as part of their T206 series.

Why the Card is So Rare

The main reason this card is so rare is that its production stopped very early. Honus Wagner was a non-smoker and did not want his picture on cigarette packages. He also might not have agreed with the amount of money the ATC offered him. Because of this, the ATC stopped making his card. Only a small number of cards were ever given out to the public, unlike the thousands of other player cards. In 1933, this card was already listed as the most expensive baseball card, valued at $50.

Record-Breaking Sales

The T206 Honus Wagner card has broken many records for baseball card sales. In 2007, a card in excellent condition sold for $2.8 million. In 2010, a previously unknown copy, even though it was in poor condition, sold for $262,000. In 2016, a T206 Wagner card sold for $3.12 million, setting a new record at the time. In May 2021, another example sold for $3.75 million. Later that year, in August 2021, a card sold for an incredible $6.6 million, becoming the most valuable sports card at that time. On August 3, 2022, a T206 Honus Wagner card was sold privately for a new record of $7.25 million.

Career Statistics

Here are some of Honus Wagner's official career statistics from Major League Baseball. These numbers show how amazing he was as a player.

See also

In Spanish: Honus Wagner para niños