Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Shortstops

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1. Honus Wagner (1900-1917)

Honus Wagner had a truly excellent career. He ranks tenth all time with a value of 131 Wins Above Replacement, eighth with 3420 hits, ninth with 643 doubles, third with 252 triples and tenth with 723 stolen bases. He was a true force offensively and defensively, a superstar in baseball at the turn of the century. It is certainly no surprise that Wagner was one of the first players enshrined in the Hall of Fame when it opened in 1936.

It is certainly easy to see why, as Wagner still appears all over the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Time offensive leaders. During his eighteen years with the Pirates, Wagner produced a .328/.394/.468 batting line, stealing 639 bases while hitting 551 doubles and 232 triples. Wagner led the National League in doubles seven times, triples three times, RBI and stolen bases five times and OPS eight times.

As great as Honus Wagner was offensively, he was also a stalwart with the glove. He still ranks eleventh all time with a 5.63 range factor per game at short, and led National League shortstops in range factor four times. Age did not stop Wagner’s defensive acumen either, as he led all shortstops with a .948 fielding percentage at 41 years old.

Perhaps the best power hitter of his time, Honus Wagner was truly an all-time great and one of the best all around players in baseball history. Not only is he the greatest shortstop in Pittsburgh Pirates history, but in the history of baseball as well.

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