Honus Wagner was the first American sports superstar of the twentieth century. One of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in its first year in 1939, he was probably the best shortstop in baseball's history. His great career, which stretched from 1895 to 1917, most of it with the Pittsburgh Pirates, occurred simultaneously with the dawn of baseball as a popular entertainment. His 1909 baseball card, one of which sold for $451,000, is a holy grail of American memorabilia. This first major biography shows why Wagner was America's favorite image of sport during baseball's transition to the modern era.
"A valuable book for baseball fans, this is the most comprehensive biography of Wagner.... Esmo's reading is as relaxing as a summer afternoon. His voice has a soothing quality that makes the book interesting and informative."-AudioFile
