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Wagner, Honus

John Peter Wagner
Born: February 24, 1874, Chartiers, Pennsylvania
Died: December 6, 1955, Carnegie, Pennsylvania
Bats: 
Right
Throws: 
Right
Played For: 
Louisville Colonels (1897-1899), Pittsburgh Pirates (1900-1917)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers: 1936
Biography: 

One of the Hall of Fame's five original inductees in 1936, Honus Wagner combined rare offensive and defensive excellence throughout a 21-year career. Despite his awkward appearance -- stocky, barrel-chested and bow-legged -- the longtime Pirates shortstop broke into the big leagues by hitting .335 in 1897 with Louisville, the first of 17 consecutive seasons of hitting .299 or better, including eight as the National League batting champion. Wagner compiled a lifetime average of .328, and the Flying Dutchman also stole 723 bases, while leading the league in thefts on five occasions.

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Induction Speech

Did You Know: 
that in 1905, Honus Wagner became the first baseball player to have his signature branded into a Louisville Slugger baseball bat?
I don't make speeches. I let my bat speak for me in the summertime.