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After a short stint with the minor league beginning in 1895, Wagner began his major league career with the Louisville Colonels but played 18 of his 21 seasons with the Pittsburgh PiratesThis article is on the baseball team. For the National Hockey League team ( 1925 1930), see Philadelphia Quakers. Also, the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers were named the Pirates from 1933 to 1940. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League, winning a World SeriesIn baseball, the World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball in North America, played in October after the end of the regular season between the pennant winner of the American League and the pennant winner of the National League. title with them in 1909Events January 5 Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama. January 16 Ernest Shackleton's expedition finds the magnetic South Pole. January 28 United States troops leave Cuba after being there since the Spanish-American War. February 12 The National. His broad range of skills earned him the high praise of his peers, and he was a member of the first class ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of FameNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum based in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests that serves as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in North America, the display of baseball-related a in the select company of Ty CobbTyrus Raymond Cobb ( December 18, 1886 in Narrows, Georgia July 17, 1961 in Atlanta, Georgia), usually known as Ty Cobb and nicknamed "The Georgia Peach", was an American baseball player considered to be the greatest player of the "Deadball Era" (1900-192, Walter JohnsonAmerican Tobacco Company baseball card (White Borders (T206)). Walter Perry Johnson ( November 6, 1887- December 10, 1946), American professional baseball pitcher. Born in Humboldt, Kansas, he was a farm boy who grew up to become one of Major League Baseb, Christy MathewsonNew York Giants at the West Side Grounds. Christopher Mathewson born August 12, 1880 in Factoryville, Pennsylvania, United States died October 7, 1925 in Saranac Lake, New York, was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Born into a wealthy family, Mathewson at, and Babe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth ( February 6, 1895 August 16, 1948), better known as Babe Ruth and also commonly known by the nicknames The Bambino and The Sultan of Swat was an American baseball player and United States national icon. He was one of the first five pla. He won the National League batting title eight times. He retired from baseball in 1917 as the National League record holder in career hits, doubles, triples, runs, RBI, stolen bases, and games played. His lifetime batting average was .329. Famous baseball manager (and contemporary of Wagner's) John McGraw spoke for many when he said of Wagner that "while he was the greatest shortstop, I believe he could have been the number one player at any position he might have selected. That's why I vote him baseball's foremost all-time player."

Wagner was on the coaching staff of the Pirates from 1933 to 1952. He died in Carnegie at the age of 71 and is buried at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery south of Pittsburgh.

More recently Honus Wagner has regained the public's attention for being the most valuable baseball trading card ever. Known as the "Mona Lisa of baseball cards" and "The King of Cards" respectively it was the first card to be sold for over a million dollars. The cards were printed by the Piedmont Cigarette Company without Wagner's permission, and their production ceased as soon as he found out. Fewer than 75 authentic cards are known to exist. The finest exemplar used to be famously owned by Wayne Gretzky. Today it is valued at well over one and a half million dollars.