Honus Wagner Selecting a Bat, circa 1915
Source: Unknown, but believed to be in the Public Domain
Photo Subject: Honus Wagner selecting a bat, circa 1915
Fun Fact: Honus Wagner was known for his bat, both figuratively and literally. Over a twenty-one-year career, he won eight batting titles and finished with a career batting average of .328. He was also known for his bat preference, a 33-inch bat weighing over 40 ounces with a thick handle and small knob. The most popular size bat for current MLB players is 34 inches and 32 ounces.
He also did not look like a major league shortstop. Built more like a catcher, he had massive shoulders, muscular arms, and huge hands, and described by some as bow-legged. Despite his bowed legs, Wagner was quick at shortstop and fast on the base paths. Attesting to his speed, he led the NL five times in stealing bases, seven times for doubles and three times for triples.
After he retired, Wagner would tell fans that once, when fielding a grounder at shortstop, he scooped up “grass, pebbles, and a rabbit that had run onto the field and heaved the whole mess to first, nailing the runner—by a hare”.
Painting Detail: Printed on 13” x 19” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details on the bats’ grain pattern were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement: Thanks to the Society for Baseball Research for the story of “out by a hare”.