Wagner at 2nd Base?!

[Archive]

Posted By: Scott

The 1915 E106 American Caramel set has an Honus Wagner card where his position is listed as second base. Based on the limited amount I've heard/read about this, there doesn't seem to be any record of Wagner playing that position and/or why the card producer chose to ignore the obvious short stop position that would seem logical to put on the card. Are there any facts to support the second base position or is this most likely a mistake/misprint?

[Archive]

Posted By: Mark L

Maybe they figured that a 40-year old would have to slow down and move to an easier position.

[Archive]

Posted By: Larry

He only played 12 games at 2nd base in 1915.

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve f

According to baseball-reference, he played many games at other positions. At second, 1915 -12, 1916 -24 games.

+--------------+---+----+------+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+------+----+----+----+
Position Total SS 1887
OF 372
1B 248
3B 209
2B 57
P* 2
+--------------+---+----+------+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+------+----+----+----+

[Archive]

Posted By: Scott

Thanks to all responders, I didn't realize he played that much at other positions.

I guess my question would be more appropriately asked as "Given that he is so associated with the shortstop position, why would a card manufacturer go out of their way to list him at any position other than the one the player is most widely associated with?" I know there are many cases of players being listed with positions that were not their primary ones but this is Honus Wagner--a star/god even in his day--by 1915 you would think that shortstop is the no-brainer position to put on a card. Is there some history someone knows of which would go a ways in helping figure out why a card company would choose second base over shortstop--just seems kinds of strange to me.

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Wakefield

His versatility is a part of why the contemporaries of Ruth, Cobb, and Wagner thought of Wagner as the best ball player ever. That's what the folks that played with them said...

[Archive]

Posted By: dennis

kind of like foxx dressed as a catcher...i know there are some t206's(?) with pitchers batting too.

[Archive]

Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

In the Tommy Leach chapter on page 23, Tommy Leach had the following statement with regards to Honus Wagner's fielding:

"And it also turned out that while Honus was the best third baseman in the league, he was also the best first baseman, the best second baseman, the best shortstop, and the best outfielder. That was in fielding. And since he led the league in batting eight times between 1900 and 1911, you know that he was the best hitter, too. As well as the best base runner."

Patrick

[Archive]

Posted By: Zach Rice

[Archive]

Posted By: Peter Spaeth

Sam Crawford, who of course played with Cobb forever, said in an interview late in life (it's in Glory of Their Times) that Wagner was better.

[Archive]

Posted By: Justin

Jimmie Foxx actually started as a catcher, so that card almost makes sense.