WAGNER, HONUS

born Feb. 24, 1874, Mansfield [now Carnegie], Pa., U.S. died Dec. 6, 1955, Carnegie byname of John Peter Wagner American professional baseball player, one of the first five men elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1936). He was generally considered the greatest shortstop in baseball history and by some was regarded as the finest all-around player in the history of the National League. The "Flying Dutchman" played for the Louisville Colonels from 1897 through 1899 and for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900 through 1917. While playing for Pittsburgh, he led the National League in batting average in eight seasons and in stolen bases five years. He finished his career with a 21-year batting average of .327 or .329 and 3,415 or 3,430 hits (authorities differ). His total of 252 three-base hits is the greatest ever attained by a National League player. He also retired with 722 stolen bases. A right-handed batter and thrower, Wagner had a heavy physique (about 6 feet, 200 pounds) and unusually long arms. He was, however, very fast as a base runner and as a defensive player. He managed the Pirates briefly in 1917 and, a popular figure in Pittsburgh, coached the team from 1933 to 1951.