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Honus Wagner Hated Baseball’s Changes After He Retired, But Felt They Made The Game Better
One of the sport’s biggest stars preferred when he played, but understood poitive changes that took place in the big leagues
Hall-of-Fame shortstop Honus Wagner played during some baseball’s grittiest days. After he retired, the game saw a number of changes that significantly veered from what he had grown accustomed to during his illustrious career. While he lamented on such progress, he also acknowledged that it made the game better and was popular with fans — so it wasn’t all bad.
A shortstop by trade, Wagner spent his entire 21-year big-league career (1897–1917) with the same franchise, the Louisville Colonels (which eventually became the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900). He was a superb athlete who could do it all, winning eight batting titles and playing top-notch defense.
Despite having prominent bowed legs, his strength and agility made him a star. With career totals of a .328 batting average, 101 home runs, 1,732 RBIs, 3,420 base hits and 723 stolen bases, it’s little wonder the right-handed legend was part of the initial National Baseball Hall of Fame’s class in 1936.
