Honus Wagner biography
Honus Wagner, byname of John Peter Wagner, additionally known as the Flying Dutchman, (born Feb. 24, 1874, Mansfield [now Carnegie], Pa., U.S.—died Dec. 6, 1955, Carnegie, Pa.), American skilled baseball participant, one of many first 5 males elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1936). He is usually thought-about the best shortstop in baseball historical past and is regarded by some because the best all-around participant within the historical past of the National League (NL).
A right-handed batter and thrower, Wagner had a cumbersome physique for his period—he stood about 6 toes (1.83 metres) tall and weighed 200 kilos (91 kg)—and had unusually lengthy arms. He was, nonetheless, very quick as a base runner and as a defensive participant. Wagner performed for the short-lived Louisville Colonels franchise from 1897 by 1899, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He topped the NL in extra-base hits in his first season in Pittsburgh and posted a league-leading and career-high .381 batting common. Wagner went on to guide the NL in batting common seven extra occasions, and he hit at the least .330 in every season between 1899 and 1909. In 1901 he led the Pirates to the primary of three consecutive NL pennants, the final of which gave the Pirates a berth within the first World Series, a loss to the Boston Red Sox. Wagner helped the Pirates to the primary World Series title of their franchise historical past in 1909.
He retired in 1917, ending his 21-year profession with a lifetime batting common of .328 and three,420 hits. Playing on the peak of the “dead-ball” period, he by no means amassed giant dwelling run totals (his profession excessive, which he reached twice, was 10), however he was a prodigious energy hitter for the time, main the league in slugging share on six events. Wagner’s whole of 252 triples is the best ever attained by an NL participant. He additionally retired with 722 stolen bases, which was the second highest whole in main league historical past on the time. Wagner managed the Pirates briefly in 1917, was a coach on the crew from 1933 to 1951, and remained a well-liked determine in Pittsburgh.