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Honus Wagner

Third Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Louisville
  • Team: Colonels
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Johannes Peter Wagner (1874-1955) was, simply, the greatest shortstop who ever played the game. The Pittsburgh icon was among the first five selections to Cooperstown in 1936 in recognition of overall prowess afield, at bat and on base unparalleled in baseball. Even his closest rival for “All-Time Best” honors, Ty Cobb, said Honus was “maybe the greatest star ever to take the diamond.” Badgered mercilessly by ‘Nuf Ced’ McGreevy’s Royal Rooters in the ’07 Series with Boston, Wagner was deeply wounded by his mediocre performance. He achieved some vindication 2 years later, leading the Pirates over Cobb’s Tigers.

  • Space doesn’t allow a fair summary of Wagner’s hitting records. A marvel at the plate.
  • Was a Pirates’ coach for 39 years, mentoring several future Hall of Famers
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1936

Auction History

Rube Waddell

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Louisville
  • Team: Colonels
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

George E. Waddell (1876-1914) was one of the premier pitchers in MLB history and also a man-child who’d leave the dugout and chase a fire truck. His titanic struggles with Cy Young made for the greatest pitching duels of all time. Connie Mack described his curve as the “fastest and deepest I’ve ever seen.”

  • Waddell’s perplexing personal and social problems led to a shortened career and life
  • Driven to distraction, Mack sold Rube to the Browns for the ’08 season, his last hurrah
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946

Auction History