Hal Wagner
Born: 7/2/1915 in East Riverton, NJ, USA
Died: 8/4/1979 in Riverside, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1937-10-03 | Final Game: 1949-04-19
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Harold Edward Wagner
Biography
Hal Wagner was a professional baseball player born in 1915, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1937 until 1949. Known for his versatility and solid defensive skills, Wagner appeared in 672 games throughout his career, where he amassed 458 hits, 15 home runs, and 228 RBIs, culminating in a career batting average of .248. His ability to contribute both offensively and defensively earned him recognition, and he was selected as an All-Star twice during his tenure in the league.
Playing in a time that bridged the gap between the pre-World War II years and the post-war era, Wagner's career spanned an important transitional period in baseball history. He showcased a blend of speed and power, with a total of 10 stolen bases complementing his offensive contributions. While he may not have been among the most celebrated stars of his time, Wagner’s consistent performance and dedication to the game left a lasting impression on the teams he played for and the fans who watched him.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 672 | 1849 | 179 | 458 | 90 | 12 | 15 | 228 | 10 | 253 | 152 | 0.248 | 0.343 | 0.334 | 0.677 | 65.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | PHA | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1938 | PHA | AL | 33 | 88 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0.227 | -335.5 |
| 1939 | PHA | AL | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | PHA | AL | 34 | 75 | 9 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0.253 | -13.6 |
| 1941 | PHA | AL | 46 | 131 | 18 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 19 | 9 | 0.221 | -160.7 |
| 1942 | PHA | AL | 104 | 288 | 26 | 68 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 24 | 29 | 0.236 | -443.9 |
| 1943 | PHA | AL | 111 | 289 | 22 | 69 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 3 | 36 | 17 | 0.239 | -130.5 |
| 1944 | BOS | AL | 66 | 223 | 21 | 74 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 29 | 14 | 0.332 | 1075.5 |
| 1944 | PHA | AL | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 1075.5 |
| 1946 | BOS | AL | 117 | 370 | 39 | 85 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 52 | 3 | 69 | 32 | 0.230 | 123.6 |
| 1947 | BOS | AL | 21 | 65 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0.231 | -149.2 |
| 1947 | DET | AL | 71 | 191 | 19 | 55 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 33 | 0 | 28 | 16 | 0.288 | -149.2 |
| 1948 | DET | AL | 54 | 109 | 10 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 0.202 | -389.9 |
| 1948 | PHI | NL | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | -389.9 |
| 1949 | PHI | NL | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WS | BOS | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 626 | 0 | 2423 | 271 | 53 | 36 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | PHA | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1938 | PHA | C | 30 | 0 | 87 | 16 | 3 | 2 |
| 1939 | PHA | C | 5 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | PHA | C | 28 | 0 | 91 | 16 | 4 | 4 |
| 1941 | PHA | C | 42 | 0 | 144 | 19 | 4 | 4 |
| 1942 | PHA | C | 94 | 0 | 371 | 47 | 6 | 7 |
| 1943 | PHA | C | 99 | 0 | 340 | 56 | 8 | 3 |
| 1944 | BOS | C | 64 | 0 | 299 | 29 | 10 | 4 |
| 1944 | PHA | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | BOS | C | 116 | 0 | 553 | 39 | 10 | 3 |
| 1947 | BOS | C | 21 | 0 | 82 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 1947 | DET | C | 71 | 0 | 275 | 22 | 3 | 3 |
| 1948 | DET | C | 52 | 0 | 162 | 12 | 2 | 4 |
| 1948 | PHI | C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | PHI | C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 625 |
| First Base | 1 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | Durham | NC | 1936, 1937 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 33th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |