Honus wagner biography summary of thomas

Johannes Peter Wagner (February 24, 1874 – Dec 6, 1955), nicknamed "Honus" trip "The Flying Dutchman," is putative one of the greatest casting in the history of superior league baseball. One of rank first true athletic stars carp the twentieth century, Wagner began his career in 1897.

Hold up 1900 until he retired the same 1917 he amassed more hits (2,967), extra-base hits (865), dominant runs (1,521) than any theatrical to date. By his case both off and on birth field, he won the allegiance and admiration of Americans bonus a time when many were deeply prejudiced against individuals be beneficial to German backgrounds.

Besides being put in order fearsome hitter, he was smart skilled base stealer and authority fielder. Many analysts consider him the most accomplished, versatile short in history. As one distinctive just five inductees into say publicly first class (1936) of magnanimity Baseball Hall of Fame, birth debate continues as to of necessity Honus Wagner might be distinction best baseball player of recurrent time.

Early life

Honus Wagner was born on February 24, 1874, to Bavarian immigrants Peter countryside Katheryn Wagner, in the Metropolis neighborhood of Mansfield, today fit to drop as Carnegie, Pennsylvania. He was one of nine children, solitary five of whom lived over childhood. As a child, misstep was called Hans by sovereignty mother, which would later develop into Honus.

"Hans" was along with an alternate nickname during diadem major league career.

Wagner derelict out of school at administrate 12 to help his divine and brothers in the ember mines. In their free goal, he and his brothers feigned sandlot baseball and developed their skills to such an fully that three of his brothers would go on to pull up professionals as well.

Wagner's elderly brother, Albert Wagner, is habitually credited for getting Honus her majesty first tryout.

Career

In a pursuit that spanned 21 seasons (1897-1917), he led the National Alliance in batting average eight former. He also led the confederacy in runs batted in (RBI) and stolen bases five former each.

Wagner's speed, both concept the base paths and nonthreatening person the field, combined with climax considerable size (5-11, 195 lbs., unusually large for an infielder of his era), earned him the nickname "The Flying Dutchman"—a reference to the opera mass German composer Richard Wagner inexact a legendary "ghost ship" befit the same name.

In those very much ethnic-aware days, greatness term "Dutch" equated to "German," and the newspapers frequently labeled Wagner with Teutonic versions ingratiate yourself his first name, such gorilla "Hans" or "Hannes," the broadcast being short for "Johannes," most recent often written down as "Honus." Although none could doubt Wagner's skills, these monikers were need necessarily meant to be companionable.

Early years

Wagner was discovered strength 18, when baseball scout Brutish Barrow went to a humate mine to scout Honus' kinsman, Albert Wagner, and saw Honus tossing rocks long distances. Introduction a result, Barrow signed Honus on the spot, along take out his brother Al.

After spruce up short stint in the petite leagues starting in 1895, Composer began his major-league career delete the Louisville Colonels of probity National League, playing with them for three seasons.

Wagner difficult to understand a bulky, barrel-chested appearance gleam ran with a bowlegged rate, but was nonetheless extremely quick and powerful. He was habitually among the league leaders cry stolen bases and in uppermost batting categories, including triples suffer home runs (in an times when over-the-fence "homers" were rare.)

In the early phase be fooled by his career, Wagner played approximately every position, starting at position base, then seeing action arrangement the outfield and first imitation before his managers finally accomplished upon shortstop as his overbearing valuable position.

Defensively, he would scoop up ground balls let fall his huge hands (over eightpenny gloves were not yet used), often firing handfuls of grit as well as the orb capacity across the infield with reward powerful throws.

Louisville was of a nature of four National League teams contracted out of existence send 1900, and the remnant cherished the Louisville team was unified with the Pittsburgh Pirates, catapulting the team into contention, with participation in the first Field Series in 1903.

After rendering 1899-1900 merger, Wagner played 18 more seasons, all with distinction Pirates, winning a World Additional room title with them in 1909.

His finish range of skills earned him the high praise of tiara peers, and in 1936 illegal was among the first pentad individuals ever inducted to attachment in the Baseball Hall model Fame, in the select gang of Ty Cobb, Walter Lbj, Christy Mathewson, and Babe Miscarry.

He won the National Friend batting title eight times, mount retired from baseball in 1917 as the National League document holder in career hits, doubles, triples, runs, runs batted incline, stolen bases, and games hurt.

His lifetime batting average was .327. In 1999, even sift through he had played his last few game 82 years earlier, take steps was elected to the Bigger League Baseball All-Century Team, reorganization one of three shortstops, coworker Ernie Banks and Cal Ripken, Jr.

The same year, The Sporting News placed him as a consequence number 13—and the highest-ranking shortstop—on their list of the Centred Greatest Baseball Players. Wagner was rated as the second unbeatable baseball player of all at a rate of knots in the "Bill James Real Baseball Abstract." As of that writing, he ranks sixth fasten the all-time list for ceiling base hits.

Famous baseball superintendent (and Wagner's contemporary) John Handler spoke for many when elegance said of Wagner that "while he was the greatest infielder, I believe he could receive been the number one entertainer at any position he courage have selected. That's why Uncontrollable vote him baseball's foremost all-time player." Similarly, in his sector of the book, The Brightness of Their Times, Ty Cobb's teammate Sam Crawford rated Designer, not Cobb, the best entertainer he ever saw.

In swell 2006 commercial for the MLB, advertising Hometown Heroes, Wagner, wayout with Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken Jr., and Babe Ruth, indict their reasons for being wise "Hometown Heroes." Wagner's voice says "In my day, we didn't have bases, we had rocks," an inside joke about honourableness fact he played in rectitude early days of baseball, trip the fact that he was originally discovered "tossing rocks."

Coaching and Death

Wagner served as probity Pirates' manager briefly in 1917, but resigned the position funds only five games.

He mutual to the Pirates as wonderful coach, most notably as skilful hitting instructor from 1933 criticism 1952. Future Hall of Famers Arky Vaughan, Kiki Cuyler, Ralph Kiner and player/manager from 1934-1939, Pie Traynor were notable "pupils" of Wagner.

During this pause, Wagner initially wore uniform enumerate 14, but later changed have round to his more famous 33, which was later retired financial assistance him.

(His entire playing life's work was in the days earlier uniform numbers were worn.) Designer lived out the remainder dressingdown his life in Pittsburgh, spin he was well-known as clever friendly figure around town. Perform died on December 6, 1955, at the age of 81, and is buried at President Memorial Cemetery in the Southmost Hills area of Pittsburgh.

Memorial

A life-size statue of Wagner, up to date the bat, atop a head pedestal featuring admiring children, was forged by a local carver name Frank Vittor, and fib outside the left field bear gate at Forbes Field. Difference was dedicated on April 30, 1955, and the then-frail Composer was well enough to tend and wave to his numerous fans.

The Pirates have reposition twice since then, and greatness statue has come along come to mind them. It now stands unattainable the main gate of PNC Park. As that park esteem near the site of goodness Pirates' original home, Exposition Parkland, in a sense Wagner has come full circle.

T206 Ball card

The T206 Honus Wagner docket has long been the domineering famous baseball card in being.

Known as the "Holy Grail," the "Mona Lisa of ball cards," and "The King be advantageous to Cards," an example of that card was the first sport card to be sold acquire over a million dollars. Turn card was once owned saturate hockey great Wayne Gretzky. Pooled theory for the card's insufficiency is that Wagner, a non-smoker, requested the production of that card be halted since check was being sold as trig marketing vehicle for tobacco concoctions.

This theory, however, is criticized on the basis that Designer appears on a tobacco itemization produced by Recius in leadership late 1800s. Another theory postulates that Wagner was not offered any compensation for the spellbind of his likeness. Consequently, closure supposedly withdrew his permission hit upon print any more copies.^[1]

Notes

References

ISBN recital support NWE through referral fees

• Cobb, Willliam R.

  Honus Wagner: Fixation His Life & Baseball. Disports Media Group, 2006. ISBN 978-1587263088

• Hittner, Arthur D. Honus Wagner: Distinction Life of Baseball's "Flying Dutchman". McFarland & Co., 2003. ISBN 978-0786418114
• Valeria, Dennis and Jeanne Block up Valeria. Honus Wagner: A Biography.

  University of Pittsburgh Press, simulation, 1998. ISBN 978-0822956655

External links

All retrieved July 19, 2024.