Books and articles about Honus Wagner

For 56 years, Wagner was a fixture in Pittsburgh, as a player for 17 years and as a coach for 39 more. In that time, Wagner was the first player to have his signature on a Louisville Slugger (1905), had his face put on an early baseball card that is now worth more than $100,000 (1909), served as a sergeant at arms for the Pennsylvania state legislature (1929), became one of the first five players elected to the Hall of Fame (1936), and, seven months before he died, saw a statue of himself erected outside Forbes Field. When he died, Branch Rickey declared that Wagner was the greatest player he had ever seen.

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One reason for Rickey's pronouncement was the bowlegged, barrel-chested, long-limbed Wagner's skill at shortstop, where he was often likened to an octopus. When he fielded grounders, his huge hands also collected large scoops of infield dirt, which accompanied his throws to first like the tail of a comet. It was said that Wagner threw out runners lying on his back. In one instance, he was caught with his glove hand in his back pocket reaching for a tobacco chaw, so he fielded a sharp grounder in his bare throwing hand and calmly threw the runner out, literally, with one hand behind his back. On another occasion, he used his bulk to keep a runner from stealing second after a wild throw from the catcher. Wagner timed his leap so that he landed on the unsuspecting incoming runner short of the base. By the time the players untangled themselves, the centerfielder had thrown the ball back to Wagner, who tagged the embarrassed runner out.

Ed Barrow discovered the ungainly Dutchman while scouting Wagner's older brother, Al, near the Pennsylvania coal mines where they both worked. Legend says that Barrow spied the 18-year-old Hans flinging rocks across the wide expanse of the Monongahela River and signed him on the spot. Wagner started in Steubenville, Ohio, then joined the NL Louisville club for three years. After the 1899 season, the National League shrunk from twelve to eight teams, and the Louisville franchise was discontinued. In 1900 former Louisville owner Barney Dreyfus bought the Pittsburgh franchise, and brought Wagner back to Pennsylvania for good.

From then on, the good-natured and modest Wagner dominated the league. He led the league in hitting eight times, in steals five times, and in slugging average six times. He hit over .300 17 times and would eventually play every position except catcher. He is also high on the all-time stolen-base, triples, and hits lists. After winning the batting title in 1909, he was pitted against the Tigers and Ty Cobb, the AL batting champ, in the 1909 World Series. In Game Two, Cobb notified the "krauthead" of his intention to steal second on the next pitch. Wagner's message-laden tag in Cobb's mouth resulted in three stitches and Cobb's lasting respect. In Game Three, Wagner drove in three runs and stole three bases. The Pirates won the Series in seven games with Wagner batting .333 and stealing six bases, including home.

Wagner simply loved to play, and reputedly didn't much care about getting paid for it. Ban Johnson tried to lure him to the American League, and Clark Griffith of Washington supposedly offered Wagner a huge sum. But Wagner was loyal and liked Pittsburgh, despite failing ever to earn more than $10,000 a year. Cobb and Nap Lajoie offered him $1,000 a week for a barnstorming tour, but he turned it down. And supposedly, Wagner didn't want his picture on the now-famous baseball card because the sponsor was a tobacco company, and he didn't want to seem to condone smoking, although he chewed tobacco. The story goes that he sent the tobacco company the money it would have earned from the card, which had already been printed.

Wagner was made manager in his final year, 1917, when he was forty-three, but decided he didn't like managing after only five games and one victory. He played semi-pro ball around Pittsburgh for another seven years. He was named a Pirate coach in 1933 and served until 1951, giving batting tips to future Hall of Famers Pie Traynor, Kiki Cuyler, Arky Vaughn, Ralph Kiner, and the Waner brothers. (SEW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 17, 1899: Honus Wagner is 3-for-5 against the Cleveland Spiders, but Louisville loses when Wagner is doubled off 2nd base to end the game. Honus forgot how many outs there and did not get back to the base in time. Cleveland OF Louis Sockalexis is fined in police court for public intoxication. The club releases him, and he signs with Hartford of the Eastern League. » December 8, 1899: Louisville president Barney Dreyfuss is transferring to the Pittsburgh club (of which he is part owner) most of his top stars, including player-manager Fred Clarke, Hans Wagner, Claude Ritchey, Tommy Leach, Rube Waddell, and Deacon Phillippe. Louisville is a likely candidate in the reduction of NL franchises from 12 to 8. » April 25, 1900: In Cincinnati, Honus Wagner cracks three doubles but the Pirates still lose, 9-8. » May 28, 1900: New York pitcher Cy Seymour, a former 20-game winner, combines with Ed Doheny to walk nine Pirates and plunk four in a 14-0 loss to Pittsburgh. Seymour hits Honus Wagner with a pitch today and plunked him two days ago as well. » June 1, 1901: In the Reds 4-3 win at Pittsburgh, umpire Bert Cunningham calls out Kitty Bransfield at 1B on disputed call in the 9th that would've tied the game. 2,000 fans then chase the ump who is shielded and escorted to safety by manager Fred Clarke and Hans Wagner. » June 20, 1901: Pittsburgh’s Honus Wagner becomes the first 20th-century player to steal home twice in a single game, as Jack Chesbro blanks the Giants, 7-0. » April 27, 1902: Cubs rookie lefthanded pitcher Jim St. Vrain, batting righthanded at the urging of manager Selee, grounds to Pittsburgh SS Honus Wagner. But then, the confused St. Vrain runs toward 3B as the astonished Wagner throws him out at 1B. Pittsburgh wins, 2-0, as Deacon Phillippe is the winner. The Pirate infield records all the putouts with 16 made at 1B. The Cubs now return to Chicago for a 25-game homestand. » July 12, 1902: Overcoming poor Buc baserunning, Pirates star Jack Chesbro pitches a 5-hit shutout and strikes out 11 Giants to beat Christy Mathewson, 4–0. As noted by Clifford Blau, the Buccos lose five straight runners via baserunning errors. With two outs in the third, Ginger Beaumont is on 2B, with first base empty, and he is put out trying to advance to third on a grounder. In the 4th, Hans Wagner leads off with a triple, but is out at the plate on Kitty Bransfield's grounder to first. Bransfield is then thrown out trying to steal 2B. Claude Ritchey draws a walk, but is picked off first. Jimmy Burke leads off the fifth with a double, but tries to stretch it into a triple, and is tagged out by Matty, covering the bag. » August 13, 1902: In the 2nd game of a doubleheader in Boston, Pirate Honus Wagner steals 2B, 3B, and home in the 7th inning. Wagner also did it in 1899. » April 24, 1903: Against the Pirates, the Cardinals go into the 9th with a 7-6 lead, in part due to three errors by SS Honus Wagner. Honus atones for the miscues by tripling in the 9th and scoring on a Kitty Bransfield single. With two outs in the 11th, Wagner walks, steals 2B and scores the winner on another Kitty bingle, and the Bucs win, 7–6. Wagner finishes with two triples among his four hits, four RBIs, and three stolen bases. » May 7, 1903: For the 2nd time in his career, Fred Clarke hits for the cycle and adds a walk, sacrifice and stolen base, but the effort comes up short as the Reds beat the Pirates, 10-8. The Pirates also lose Honus Wagner after a play at 2B with Reds infielder Jack Morrissey. When Wagner threatens to punch Morrissey, umpire Bug Holliday restrains him and the two clinch. Wagner is suspended for three games. » June 2, 1903: With Honus Wagner filling in for ailing manager Fred Clarke, reportedly recuperating from a nervous breakdown, the Pirates beat the Giants, 7-0. Deacon Phillippe goes all the way, striking out eight batters, including the side in the 5th. Wagner is 3-for-5 for the Buccaneers. Frank Bowerman is tossed out for protesting calls. » June 6, 1903: In a rain-shortened 6-inning game, the Pirates keep their whitewash streak alive at five games as Deacon Phillippe shuts out the 6th-place Beaneaters, 4-0. The game ends after Honus Wagner leads off with a triple in the 7th inning, a hit that stays in the record books according to the rules. » June 27, 1903: The Pirates crush 15 hits off Iron Joe McGinnity, including four hits by Honus Wagner, but it takes the Bucs 11 innings to cut down the Giants. In the Pirates' next game, on the 30th against Brooklyn, Wagner will collect another four hits. » October 6, 1903: A travel day and rainout enable Phillippe to pitch and win again 5–4, before 7,600 at Pittsburgh. Boston rallies for three runs in the 9th but it is not enough. Ginger Beaumont and Honus Wagner have three hits, but Honus will manage just .222 for the World Series. » June 10, 1904: It is Ladies Day in Boston, and the Pirates start Patsy Flaherty, recently re-acquired from the White Sox, where he led the AL in losses in 1903 (25). Patsy wins his first start with the help of Honus Wagner, who is 3-for-5 with two doubles, three runs, and two steals. » August 17, 1904: Christy Mathewson starts his 2nd in a row against the Pittsburgh and again the host Bucs rough him up, collecting 13 hits and six runs. But New York counters with 13 hits and nine runs against Charlie Case, to win, 9–6. Honus Wagner gets thrown out of the game after objecting to John McGraw's interference with a throw from the Bucs 3B Bobby Leach. » July 15, 1905: In New York, the Giants open a four-game series the 2nd place Pirates by staking Joe McGinnity to a 6-0 lead. But the Bucs score two in the 6th and five runs in the 7th inning before Iron Joe is lifted. Christy Mathewson shuts out Pittsburgh over the last two 2/3 inning and New York scores a deuce in the 9th on a 2-run homer by George Browne. Browne is carried off the field by the ecstatic fans after the 8-7 win. Pittsburgh takes the nitecap, 3-0, behind Deacon Phillippe's four-hitter. Honus Wagner secures the victory with a 2-run homer onto the elevated tracks in the 8th inning. » August 2, 1905: At Pittsburgh, the Giants win their 13th game in a row, beating the Pirates, 3–1, to take a 10 1/2 lead over the Pirates. Christy Mathewson is the winner over Deacon Phillippe. Bucs star Honus Wagner is thrown out at first in the 4th inning on a close play, then shows his displeasure by firing a ball near umpire George Bausewine during warmups the next inning. Bausewine responds by thumbing Honus out of the game. Wagner will be suspended for three games and fined $40. » September 12, 1905: Cards pitcher Jack Taylor allows just three Pirate hits-all by Honus Wagner-and teammate Harry Arndt swipes home in the bottom of the 9th to give St. Louis a 2-1 victory. Wagner will spoil two more no hitters by collecting the only hits: against Art Fromme on May 27, 1911 and facing Phil Douglas on October 2, 1914. » September 25, 1905: After losing three in Chicago, the Giants open a critical series in Pittsburgh by winning, 10-4 behind Christy Mathewson's 30th victory. The Giants score five runs in the 1st inning on just one hit. Deacon Phillippe hits a record-tying three batters in the frame and Honus Wagner adds a throwing error. New York now leads by six 1/2 games. » May 18, 1906: Christy Mathewson, weakened from a bout of diphtheria, is pounded for 14 hits by the Pirates and loses, 7-6. Honus Wagner paces the attack with two singles and a triple and also picks off Bill Dahlen off 2B in the 9th inning with the hidden ball trick. Dahlen, intently watching Lefty Leifield on the mound, misses Wagner who gently touches him with the ball. John McGraw is so furious with Dahlen that he slaps him with a $100 fine, later rescinded. The Pirates have now won three in a row from New York. » May 19, 1906: After managing the first three games from the bench, Fred Clarke leaves town to attend to his injured right shoulder, Honus Wagner skippers the Pirates to a 5-1 to over the Giants. The Bucs are now five 1/2 games in back of Chicago. » June 20, 1906: At Exposition Park, Honus Wagner clubs one of the longest hits in park history, but only makes it to 3B. Rounding first he is clipped by 1B Kid Gleason, and Wagner limps his way to a triple. A pinch runner, Harry Smith, scores for the Pirates on a fly and the Phils then generously allow Wagner to return to SS. But the injury will force him to miss three games. » August 23, 1907: The Pirates top the Giants 4-2 in 10 innings, then win the 2nd game, 1-0, when Howie Camnitz spins a 5-inning no-hitter. The Bucs score when Ed Abbaticchio singles home Honus Wagner, who had singled and stolen 2B. The Giants also lose Frank Bowerman, hit on the head by a Camnitz pitch. The doctors predict that the burly catcher will miss the season, but he is back in action in three days. » September 25, 1907: Pittsburgh's Honus Wagner steals four bases, including 2B, 3B, and home in the 2nd inning against the Giants. Not to be outdone, his teammate Fred Clarke also swipes four bases for the only time in his career. » September 27, 1907: Pirate star Honus Wagner is hit on the hand by a pitch from Rube Dessau, and will miss the last 12 games of the year. » March 16, 1908: Pittsburgh's Honus Wagner, 34, announces his retirement. An annual rite of spring, it will not keep him from playing in 151 games, more than in any of the past 10 years, and leading the league in hitting (for the 6th time), hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBI, and stolen bases. He will miss the Triple Crown by hitting two fewer home runs than Tim Jordan's 12. » April 16, 1908: Pittsburgh's Sam Leever tosses a 3-hit shutout over the Cardinals as Pittsburgh sweeps the 3-game series. But the big news for the Pirates is the signing of Honus Wagner for another year. The star SS ends his holdout and will play on the 19th in a 4-3 loss to the Reds. » May 11, 1908: In Pittsburgh, Honus Wagner leads the Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Giants with a triple, two walks, two runs and two RBI. His delayed break to 2nd allows Fred Clarke to score the 5th run on the front end of a double steal. » May 31, 1908: Jack Pfiester pitches the Cubs to a 6-3 win over the Pirates, but Pittsburgh will win the next three games with Chicago by blitzing 33 runs. The Pirates will win the finale, 13-3, when Honus Wagner connects for a homer and two doubles to drive in six runs. » June 22, 1908: Honus Wagner gets hit No. 2,000 in the 8th against Jake Weimer of the Reds, who wins 4-0 over the Pirates. Wagner makes an error when he is struck on the finger in the 1st inning » June 24, 1908: Honus Wagner does it all today, smacking a home run and double, then breaking a 3-3 tie with an 8th inning single. He ends his scoring with a steal of home as the Pirates win 5-3 over the Reds. » July 8, 1908: Despite five hits by Honus Wagner, the host Pirates drop a doubleheader to their cross-state rivals, the Phillies. They will split the next two games, but lose Deacon Phillippe for the year when he is hit on his pitching hand by a Red Dooin line drive. » July 17, 1908: It is Honus Wagner Day in Pittsburgh, as players from both teams line up to pay homage. Wagner's tribute was originally scheduled for the 16th, but Honus asked that it be moved a day so it would not conflict with the annual benefit picnic for orphans. Wagner is presented with a $700 gold watch. Pittsburgh beats Boston, 4–0. » July 21, 1908: According to a Chicago newspaper contest, the Giants' Mike Donlin, the National League's leading hitter, is baseball's most popular player. Turkey Mike tops Honus Wagner by a wide margin and will be awarded a trophy cup. Donlin was involved in a car accident on the 18th when the car he was riding in on Michigan Avenue, collided with another vehicle driven by Chicago Mayor Busse. » July 25, 1908: Before an overflow crowd of 30,000 in New York, the Pirates Lefty Leifield tops the Giants and Christy Mathewson, 7–2. The loss drops New York to 3rd place. Two errors by Larry Doyle—he'll add another—in the 7th open the gates for five Pirate runs. Pittsburgh is lead by Honus Wagner who goes 5-for-5 to take over the batting lead from a hitless Mike Donlin. After each hit, Wagner holds up a finger to show the number of safeties to the RF Donlin. » July 27, 1908: Following the Sunday off, Honus Wagner hits doubles in his first two at bats to again lead the Pirates to a 4–3 win over New York. Nick Maddox, with relief help from Irv Young, is the winner over Doc Crandall. Both Maddox and Young plunk two Giant batters. » July 28, 1908: Hooks Wiltse and Vic Willis lock horns and the Giants and Pirates duel for 16 innings before the game is called, 2–2, because of darkness. Honus Wagner is 0-for-6 but drives home a run with a "sacrifice fly." » September 7, 1908: The Pirates sweep an a.m.-p.m. doubleheader against the Cardinals. Honus Wagner is 5-for-5 in the morning game, and 1-for-2 in the afternoon. » September 8, 1908: The Pirates set a ML fielding record against the Cardinals by making only two assists, both by 2B Charlie Starr. The Bucs win, 2-0, with Honus Wagner driving in both runs. » September 22, 1908: The Pirates move to one 1/2 games in back of Chicago and New York by edging Brooklyn 3-2 in 11 innings. Al Storke triples home Honus Wagner, then scores on an error. Tom Catterson then follows with a homer. » October 2, 1908: The Pirates take over first by a half game by sweeping the Cardinals in St; Louis. Lefty Leifield wins the opener 7–4 and Howie Camnitz wins the nitecap 2–1 on homers by Honus Wagner and George Gibson. Only two points separate New York, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, as each team takes a turn on top during the final week. » April 23, 1909: In the 6th inning of the Reds-Pirates game in Pittsburgh, Honus Wagner steps across the plate to the other batter's box as Reds P Harry Gaspar delivers the ball. Umpire Bill Klem refuses to call him out. The Pirates win 2-1, but Reds manager Clark Griffith protests and acting NL president John Heydler backs Klem. But the league will override Heydler and Klem and order the game replayed September 20th. The Pirates will win again, by a score of 4-3. » May 2, 1909: Honus Wagner steals his away around the bases in the first inning of the nitecap against Chicago It is the 3rd time he has performed this feat, an NL record. The Pirates take both games in Chicago, winning 5-2 and 6-0, swiping two bases in the opener and six steals in first inning of the nitecap. » May 3, 1909: The Pirates top Chicago, 9-2, as Honus Wagner again steals three bases, including home. Wagner, who was 5-for-6 yesterday, duplicates that today. » May 20, 1909: In New York, Honus Wagner is given a silver trophy for winning the 1908 NL batting crown. » May 30, 1909: The Pirates come from behind to beat Chicago, 5-4 in the first game of a DH. In the nitecap, Honus Wagner breaks up a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning double off Jack Pfiester and the Pirates prevail, 4-2. Pittsburgh now leads the Cubs by two games, and will not lose for another 13 games. » September 28, 1909: Before the start of the game in Pittsburgh, Fred Clarke is feted by the fans. He is awarded more than $600 in gold and receives a watch from Pittsburgh mayor William Magee. Against the Giants, Clarke walks twice before removing himself, and Honus Wagner collects two doubles and a single. But the Giants outslug the Pirates to win, 13-9. » October 8, 1909: The Pirates, winners of 110 games, face Detroit in the World Series, which pits the two leagues' top offensive stars, Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. It is the first of three times that batting champs will face each other in the World Series (Al Simmons and Chick Hafey in 1931: Bobby Avila and Willie Mays in 1954 are the others) Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke starts 27-year-old rookie righthander Babe Adams against Tigers P George Mullin. There are only 11 hits in the game, but one is a home run by Clarke, and the Pirates win 4-1 before a crowd of 29,264. » October 11, 1909: Paced by Honus Wagner's three hits, three RBI, and three stolen bases, the visiting Pirates take game 3, 8-6. Nick Maddox is the winner over Ed Summers. » May 26, 1910: The Pirates' Honus Wagner and John Miller narrowly escape death when their car crashes into the safety gates of a railroad crossing in Carnegie, PA. » August 22, 1910: At Forbes Field, the Pirates beat up on the new cork-center ball. Three home runs are hit, by Howie Camnitz, Vin Campbell, and Honus Wagner, against the Phillies in the first inning of game two. Camnitz's pop is the only one of his career. Old pro Wagner is 7-for-7, with two homers, during the doubleheader sweep, including three doubles to go with his homer in the nitecap. » May 11, 1911: Against a coasting Grover Alexander, the Pirates rally for six hits and seven runs in the 9th inning, but fall far short as the Phillies win, 19–10. Honus Wagner is 1-for-2 before being tossed by umpire Bill Finneran. » May 30, 1911: After one day at the top, the Cubs drop to 3rd, as the Pirates sweep a pair from Chicago, winning 1–0 and 4–1. But the first game is protested by Chicago, presumably for batting out of order, and the protest will later be upheld. All the records including Babe Adams 4-hit shutout (he'll still lead the NL with 7) and Honus Wagner's hitless game are tossed. Thanks to the successful protest, Wagner will end the season at a league-leading .334, one point ahead of Dots Miller. In the afternoon contest, Howie Camnitz tops Ed Reulbach, who is drilled for six hits and all four runs in two innings. Wagner has a pair of hits in the nitecap. » June 5, 1911: In Pittsburgh, Pete Alexander tops the Pirates, 5–4, in the 10th, with the Phils winning run scoring on a fumble by Honus Wagner. Pirate Tommy Leach also helps the Phils by losing a fly ball in the sun that drops for a triple. Rookie star Alexander, pitching in his 100th inning, commits a balk, the only balk he'll make in his career of 5,088.2 innings. » August 16, 1911: At Brooklyn, Honus Wagner suffers a serious ankle injury rounding first in the first inning. He will miss 13 games, play one at first base, then miss another 12. With Wagner out the Pirates will lose eight of 13 and drop out of the race. » August 26, 1911: Pittsburgh, playing without Honus Wagner, is no match for Christy Mathewson, as the Giants win, 6–2. Tommy Leach, filling in for Wagner at SS, makes three errors behind Howie Camnitz. The Giants announce that for the first 11 playing days at the new Polo Grounds, the average attendance was 23,864. » September 16, 1911: At Forbes Field, Marquard, with relief from Christy Mathewson, beats the Pirates, 6–2. Before the game the Giants mascot, Victory Faust, strikes out Honus Wagner on three pitches, to the delight of the 20,000 fans. » October 15, 1911: In an exhibition game in New York, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Gabby Street and other white major leaguers take on the Lincoln Giants, a star-studded black team featuring Pop Lloyd, Dick McClelland, and Louis Santop. Johnson K's 14 to give the white all-stars a 5–3 win. » July 31, 1912: A day after the Braves went 14 innings to beat St. Louis, they go 19 innings with the Pirates. Lefty Otto Hess going all the way for Boston. The Pirates score three in the 19th, and the Braves come back with 2, losing 7–6. Honus Wagner, who earlier stole home, drives in the final run for Pittsburgh. Wagner, at 38, is the oldest player in the NL. » August 22, 1912: Before a sellout crowd of 27,000 at Forbes Field, the Pirates sweep two from the Giants, winning 3–2 and 8–6. Howie Camnitz outpitches Christy Mathewson in the opener, and Rube Marquard taking the loss in the nitecap. The Bucs are led by Honus Wagner who goes 3-for-4 in the first game, and hits for the cycle in the nitecap. Honus' seven hits total 14 bases, he scores five runs, drives in four and swipes two bases. Wagner will hit seven homers this season, with three coming off Rube. » August 14, 1913: At the Polo Grounds, the Pirates broadside Christy Mathewson for eight hits and eight runs in just three innings. Honus Wagner goes 4-for-5 on the afternoon with two hits off Matty: one a single and the other a 3-run homer. The only time the Giants get Hans out is when a pitch hits his bat as he tries to get out of way and the ball rolls fair. The Giants make a game of it, but lose 8–6. » September 10, 1913: Honus Wagner is given a souvenir bat carved from a piece of wood taken from naval hero Oliver Perry's flagship Niagara, which was sunk in Lake Erie 100 years before. » June 9, 1914: At Baker Bowl, Honus Wagner joins Cap Anson as the only members of the 3,000 hit club when collects a 9th-inning double off the Phillies' Erskine Mayer, and scores the Bucs lone run. It comes in Wagner's 2,332nd game. Nap Lajoie will join the club in September. (Later calculations put the date at June 30th or July 4th). Wagner also shows his skills by tricking Hans Lobert to try and take 3B and then tagging him out at 2B; With the Phils up 3–0, in the 8th he nabs Beals Becker at 2B with a hidden ball trick. » July 17, 1914: At Forbes Field, Rube Marquard and Babe Adams each go a marathon 21 innings before Larry Doyle's 2-run home run gives the Giants a 3–1 win over the Pirates. Adams yields no walks and 12 hits, the longest non-walk game in ML history. Marquard walks two (one intentional) and yields 15 hits. In the 6th, Honus Wagner goes from first to 3B on a hit by Jim Viox. When New York CF Bob Bescher throws to 3B Milt Stock, the ball bounces out of his hands and disappears. Wagner scores before it's discovered that the ball bounced up under his arm and stayed there as he ran home. Wagner is called out for interference, and the Bucs protest. Manager Clarke is then ejected by umpire Bill "Lord" Byron. In a fitting ending to this unusual game, Giants OF Red Murray is knocked unconscious by a bolt of lightning after catching a fly ball for the final out. Murray is uninjured. Marquard's win is his last in 1914. He will lose 10 straight on his way to a 12–22 record. » September 15, 1914: Cleveland's Nap Lajoie strokes his 3,000th hit, a single off Detroit's Pug Cavet, joining Honus Wagner and Cap Anson as the only players to reach that mark. » July 26, 1915: Honus Wagner drives in both runs to beat Christy Mathewson, 2–1. The Pirates lose the nitecap when the Giants Jeff Tesreau tosses a 5-hitter to win, 3–0. » July 29, 1915: At 41, Honus Wagner becomes the oldest player in this century to hit a grand slam when he connects in Pittsburgh in the drizzling rain. It is inside the park against Jeff Pfeffer of Brooklyn in an 8–2 win. The record will stand until Tony Perez hits a grand slam on May 13, 1985, one day short of his 43rd birthday. » April 12, 1916: In St. Louis, the Cardinals open with a 2–1 win over the Pirates Erv Kantlehner. "Spitting Bill" Doak scatters six hits -- three by Honus Wagner -- and SS Rogers Hornsby drives in both runs for St. Louis. » April 29, 1916: Pirate SS Honus Wagner saves a 2–1 win over the Reds by making a sensational grab of Greasy Neale's line drive. » June 12, 1916: Pete Alexander beats the Pirates, 2–1. His shutout bid is stopped in the 9th inning when Honus Wagner lines a hit off Alex's shin to drive in the lone Buc run. » June 16, 1916: Long Tom Hughes of the Braves pitches a no-hitter over the Pirates, six years after pitching a 9-inning no-hitter for the Yanks, before losing 5–0 to Cleveland in 11. Today he wins 2–0 striking out Honus Wagner for the 2nd time to end the game. » July 1, 1916: At age 42 years and four months, Honus Wagner is the oldest player to hit an inside-the-park home run. He connects for the Pirates in the 4th inning at Cincinnati. » September 14, 1916: Four days after his first appearance, Pirate rookie Burleigh Grimes makes his first start, against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn breaks a scoreless tie with two runs in the 7th, after Honus Wagner flubs a DP grounder hit by Casey Stengel. Wagner, who ostensibly had told the rookie to have Stengel hit the ball to short, reportedly says, "Those damn big feet of mine have always been in my way." (Okrent & Wulf) Pittsburgh scores two in the 8th to tie but pitcher Larry Cheney hits a run-scoring double in the bottom of the 9th to win it for Brooklyn. » June 22, 1917: Honus Wagner is given a day in Pittsburgh in honor of his unretirement for one more year. » June 30, 1917: Pirates manager Jimmy Callahan is fired after his team goes 20–40. Popular star Honus Wagner is named field manager with Hugo Bezdek to take over the team's business affairs. As his first order of business, Wagner guides to Bucs to a 5–4 win over the Reds, contributing a 2-run double as well. » July 3, 1917: After managing for five games, Honus Wagner resigns as manager. Czech born Hugo Bezdek is named as his replacement, his qualifications including being the football coach at Penn State. » September 17, 1917: At Boston, the Braves whip the Pirates, 4–1. Honus Wagner makes his last appearance of the year and is pinch hit for by Bill Wanger. Wanger strikes out. Wagner has played sparingly since being spiked by Stengel on July 14; at the Polo Grounds on August 29, he played SS, the only game of the year at that position. » May 30, 1922: George Burns, now a member of the Reds, steals home against the Pirates in the 3rd on the front end of a double steal with Greasy Neale,. It is his 28th career steal of home and gives him a new National League record formerly held by Honus Wagner. The Reds win the opener, 9–3, then lose game 2, 7–3, to Johnny Morrison. » May 25, 1923: Ty Cobb scores his 1,741st run, passing Honus Wagner's record. » June 6, 1925: Fred Clarke and Honus Wagner are in the lineup of a 1901 Pirates team that plays a brief game as part of Golden Jubilee Day in Pittsburgh. A week later Clarke joins the Pirates as assistant to the president, a move that will lead to a player revolt in which heads roll and pennants are lost. » February 2, 1933: Honus Wagner rejoins the Pirates as a coach and goodwill ambassador. » September 3, 1933: At Cincinnati, the Reds clip the Pirates, 9–3, the first loss for the Bucs in nine games. The Pirates now trail the Giants by eight games. Red Lucas goes all the way for the win, as the Reds shell rookie Ralph Birkofer. After the game, Edd Roush's old-timers defeat Buck Herzog's Nine, 8–5, called after five innings on account of "tiredness." Ninety three old timers turn out and about half take a turn at the plate. Roush's squad includes Pat Duncan, Larry Kopf, Bill Rariden, and Rube Bressler, all stars on the Reds 1919 team. Donie Bush and Honus Wagner are the shortstops. » February 2, 1936: The baseball writers vote for the first players to be named to the new Baseball Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson each receive the requisite 75 percent of ballots cast. Active players also are eligible in this first election, with Rogers Hornsby finishing 9th, Mickey Cochrane 10th, Lou Gehrig 15th, and Foxx 19th. Tainted former star Hal Chase receives 11 votes for 25th place, and Joe Jackson has two votes to tie for 36th place. » June 12, 1939: The greatest gathering of members and future inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame assembles in Cooperstown, NY, for the dedication of the museum. A six-inning game at Doubleday Field presents lineups studded with players who will be elected in the future, as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Grover Alexander, Nap Lajoie, George Sisler, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, and Connie Mack accept their plaques. » June 19, 1942: Paul Waner, now with the Braves, joins Cap Anson and Honus Wagner as NL players with 3,000 hits. He hits a single off Pittsburgh's Rip Sewell at Boston. » May 30, 1945: Before the biggest Wrigley crowd—42,565 paid—in seven years, the Giants top the host Cubs, 8–6 in the opener, and Mel Ott passes Honus Wagner's career total of 4,888 total bases to set an National League record. Wagner's has since been adjusted to 4868 and both players' totals have been passed. Slim Emmerich is the winner over Ray Prim. The Cubs take the nitecap, 11–2 behind Bob Chipman's 3-hit win over Bill Voiselle. Andy Pafko clouts a 3-run homer in the 3rd. It's Voiselle's 2nd straight pounding after winning his first eight games. » February 16, 1952: Hall of Famer Honus Wagner, 77, retires after 40 years as a ML player and coach. He receives a pension from the Pirates, with whom he spent most of those years. » May 19, 1962: Stan Musial gets hit number 3,431, to break Honus Wagner's recognized National League record of 3,430 (since revised to 3,418), as St. Louis downs the Dodgers 8–1. Musial's 9th-inning single comes off Ron Perranoski. » August 5, 1979: The Phillies beat the Pirates 12–8 in the first game of a doubleheader. Philadelphia's Greg Luzinski and Pittsburgh's John Milner each hit a grand slam, and Rose collects his 2,427th career single to break Honus Wagner's NL record. » June 13, 1980: Pete Rose goes 4-for-5 to move past Honus Wagner into 5th place on the all-time hit list with 3,431. Philadelphia starts the game with seven consecutive hits and goes on to beat San Diego 9–6. » September 25, 1985: With the score tied 4–4 in the bottom of the 9th. Davey Lopes walks, steals 2B and 3B and scores on a pinch single by Chris Speier as the Cubs beat the Mets, 5–4. Gary Carter's grand slam accounts for all the Mets scoring. Lopes has three steals in the game to give him 47 (in just 275 at bats) and he sets the record most stolen bases by a player over 40. The record was set by Honus Wagner in 1914 with 23. Lopes is officially recorded at 39 but when he signed at age 22 he was afraid he was too old so he set his age back a year. » March 22, 1991: At Sotheby's in New York, a 1909-10 tobacco card in mint condition of Honus Wagner sells for $451,000 (with the 10% auction house premium) to hockey star Wayne Gretzky and LA Kings owner Bruce McNall. A 1952 Topps card of Mickey Mantle goes for $49,500, tripling the pre-auction estimate, while a baseball, signed by 12 players at the 1939 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, sells for $20,900. » September 4, 1991: Lou Gehrig's 1938 Yankee road uniform brings $220,000 at a memorabilia auction in San Francisco, becoming the most expensive non-card sports memorabilia item ever sold. A Honus Wagner card goes for $125,500 while an autographed Gehrig bat sells for $47,500. » September 21, 1996: Christie's Fine Art Auctioneers sell a 1910 T-206 Honus Wagner baseball card to an anonymous buyer for $640,000, including the $60,500 auction house fee. » July 15, 2000: A 1909 Honus Wagner baseball club is auctioned for a record $1.1 million on eBay. Other high priced items in the auction include a baseball autographed by the entire 1919 Chicago "Black Sox" team, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, as well as the umpires who worked the final game of the 1919 World Series sells for $93,666, including a 15 percent buyer's premium. A ball signed by the 1919 Reds goes for $11,208, while a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth sells for $76,020. A contract from Shoeless Joe Jackson's sale of his Chicago pool hall to teammate Lefty Williams, sells for $36,098. The contract, dated Oct. 6, 1921, is for just $1.