Heinie Wagner
Encyclopedia
Charles Francis "Heinie" Wagner (September 23, 1880 — March 20, 1943) was an American baseball
player and manager. He played shortstop
for the New York Giants
(1902) and the Boston Red Sox
(1906-1918). He was also the manager of the Red Sox during the 1930 baseball season.
Wagner was born in Harlem
, New York
, in September 1880. He began his baseball career playing for the Waverly Club in the New York State League
in 1901. In 1902, he began the season playing for Columbus in the American Association, and played briefly in 17 games for the New York Giants
of the National League
. He spent the remainder of the 1902 season with the Newark Sailors and continued to play for the Eastern League
team through 1906.
In 1906, Wagner joined the Boston Red Sox
. He played for the Red Sox from 1906 to 1918, missing only the 1914 and 1917 seasons. He was the captain of Boston's 1912 World Series
championship team. He also played for the Red Sox World Series championship teams in 1915, 1916 and 1918. Wagner and Harry Hooper
were the only players to play on all four of the Red Sox World Series championship teams.
Wagner was considered to be a valuable infielder while playing with the Red Sox and was reputed to have "an exceptionally powerful and accurate throw." He was also known to block the basepaths with his "exceptionally big" feet. With 141 career stolen base
s for the Red Sox, Wagner ranked third in team history when he retired (trailing Hall of Famers Harry Hooper
and Tris Speaker
) and still ranks fifth on the all-time Red Sox stolen base list.
After being released by the Red Sox in January 1916, Wagner served as the player-manager of the Hartford team in the Eastern League
for the first part of the 1916 season. He returned to the Red Sox in late June 1916.
In 1920, Wagner closed out his playing career as the player-manager of the Norfolk Mary Janes in the Virginia League
.
After seven years out of baseball, Wagner was hired as a coach for the Boston Red Sox under Bill Carrigan
. He was reported to be Carrigan's "right hand man" during the 1928, 1929, and 1930 seasons. In 1930, he was hired as manager
of the Red Sox after Carrigan retired. In Wagner's sole season as manager, the Red Sox finished last in the American League
with a 52-102 (.338) record. On September 29, 1930, Wagner's resignation as manager of the Red Sox was accepted by team president Bob Quinn
. He never managed again.
After retiring from baseball, Wagner worked as the superintendent of a lumber yard in New Rochelle, New York
. He also coached the baseball teams of the New Rochelle Police and Fire Departments and Elks Club.
Wagner was married to Martha Hahn Wagner. They had two sons and four daughters. In March 1943, Wagner died of a heart ailment at his home on Van Guilder Avenue in New Rochelle at age 62.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and manager. He played shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
(1902) and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1906-1918). He was also the manager of the Red Sox during the 1930 baseball season.
Wagner was born in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in September 1880. He began his baseball career playing for the Waverly Club in the New York State League
New York State League
This article refers to the modern New York State League. For the original incarnations of the New York State League see New York State League ...
in 1901. In 1902, he began the season playing for Columbus in the American Association, and played briefly in 17 games for the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He spent the remainder of the 1902 season with the Newark Sailors and continued to play for the Eastern League
Eastern League
Eastern League may refer to:*Eastern League , a professional baseball minor league in the United States*International League, a baseball minor league known as the Eastern League from 1884 to 1912...
team through 1906.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He played for the Red Sox from 1906 to 1918, missing only the 1914 and 1917 seasons. He was the captain of Boston's 1912 World Series
1912 World Series
In the 1912 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Giants four games to three .This dramatic series showcased great pitching from Giant Christy Mathewson and from Boston fireballer Smoky Joe Wood. Wood won two of his three starts and pitched in relief in the final game...
championship team. He also played for the Red Sox World Series championship teams in 1915, 1916 and 1918. Wagner and Harry Hooper
Harry Hooper
Harry Bartholomew Hooper was a Major League Baseball player in the early 20th century. Hooper batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Hooper was born in Bell Station, California. A graduate in engineering at Saint Mary's College of California, he broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 1909,...
were the only players to play on all four of the Red Sox World Series championship teams.
Wagner was considered to be a valuable infielder while playing with the Red Sox and was reputed to have "an exceptionally powerful and accurate throw." He was also known to block the basepaths with his "exceptionally big" feet. With 141 career stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s for the Red Sox, Wagner ranked third in team history when he retired (trailing Hall of Famers Harry Hooper
Harry Hooper
Harry Bartholomew Hooper was a Major League Baseball player in the early 20th century. Hooper batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Hooper was born in Bell Station, California. A graduate in engineering at Saint Mary's College of California, he broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 1909,...
and Tris Speaker
Tris Speaker
Tristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
) and still ranks fifth on the all-time Red Sox stolen base list.
After being released by the Red Sox in January 1916, Wagner served as the player-manager of the Hartford team in the Eastern League
Eastern League
Eastern League may refer to:*Eastern League , a professional baseball minor league in the United States*International League, a baseball minor league known as the Eastern League from 1884 to 1912...
for the first part of the 1916 season. He returned to the Red Sox in late June 1916.
In 1920, Wagner closed out his playing career as the player-manager of the Norfolk Mary Janes in the Virginia League
Virginia League
The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928....
.
After seven years out of baseball, Wagner was hired as a coach for the Boston Red Sox under Bill Carrigan
Bill Carrigan
William Francis Carrigan , nicknamed "Rough", was a Major League baseball catcher. He was born in Lewiston, Maine.Carrigan started his career as a platoon catcher and played all ten seasons with the Boston Red Sox...
. He was reported to be Carrigan's "right hand man" during the 1928, 1929, and 1930 seasons. In 1930, he was hired as manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Red Sox after Carrigan retired. In Wagner's sole season as manager, the Red Sox finished last in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with a 52-102 (.338) record. On September 29, 1930, Wagner's resignation as manager of the Red Sox was accepted by team president Bob Quinn
Bob Quinn
Bob, Rob, or Robert Quinn may refer to:* Bob Quinn * Bob Quinn , American baseball executive* Bob Quinn , his grandson, American baseball executive...
. He never managed again.
After retiring from baseball, Wagner worked as the superintendent of a lumber yard in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
. He also coached the baseball teams of the New Rochelle Police and Fire Departments and Elks Club.
Wagner was married to Martha Hahn Wagner. They had two sons and four daughters. In March 1943, Wagner died of a heart ailment at his home on Van Guilder Avenue in New Rochelle at age 62.