To kids today Honus Wagner is best known as the baseball player on the most valuable trading card ever made, but to early fans of the sport “The Flying Dutchman” was known as a hitting and base-stealing machine.
Wagner, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900 through 1917, won eight batting titles, led the league in stolen bases five times, and in 1936 became one of a handful of players named to the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.
PIRATES ALL-TIME ROSTER
Wagner amassed 120.3 WAR (wins above replacement) during his storied career with the Pirates. The franchise’s next biggest WAR contributions on the all-time roster come from outfielders Roberto Clemente (94.5) and Paul Waner (68.2).
Here we present the entire Pirates lineup constructed entirely by choosing the player with the team’s highest WAR at each position, including a rotation of three starting pitchers and one reliever.
CATCHER: JASON KENDALL
Wins Above Replacement: 30.6
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
FIRST BASE: WILLIE STARGELL
Wins Above Replacement: 57.5
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
SECOND BASE: BILL MAZEROSKI
Wins Above Replacement: 36.2
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
THIRD BASE: ARKY VAUGHAN
Wins Above Replacement: 64.0
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
SHORTSTOP: HONUS WAGNER
Wins Above Replacement: 120.3
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
OUTFIELD: ROBERTO CLEMENTE
Wins Above Replacement: 94.5
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
OUTFIELD: PAUL WANER
Wins Above Replacement: 68.2
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
OUTFIELD: MAX CAREY
Wins Above Replacement: 52.5
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
PITCHER: BABE ADAMS
Wins Above Replacement: 49.9
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
PITCHER: WILBUR COOPER
Wins Above Replacement: 48.0
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
PITCHER: BOB FRIEND
Wins Above Replacement: 47.9
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
RELIEF PITCHER: KENT TEKULVE
Wins Above Replacement: 19.8
⚾ ⚾ ⚾
Leave A Comment