[Nick Soulis]

Series #230



1912 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 93-58
Finish: 2nd in NL
Manager: Fred Clarke
Ball Park: Forbes Field
WAR Leader: Honus Wagner (8.1)
Franchise Record: 13-12
1912 Season Record: 0-1
Hall of Famers: (4)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1912.shtml

1905 St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 58-96
Finish: 6th in NL
Manager: Kid Nichols
Ball Park: Robinson Field
WAR Leader: Homer Smoot (3.4)
Franchise Record: 9-6
1905 Season Record: 1-1
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1905.shtml
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Heaven’s Dugout – Introductory Show



Series #230: 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates vs. 1905 St. Louis Cardinals
Theme: A Deadball Era clash & the enduring legacy of Honus Wagner

Host: Bob Costas

Panelists:

Steve Stone — cerebral analyst with pitcher’s insight

Hawk Harrelson — emotional, opinionated broadcaster, loves his one-liners

Vin Scully — poetic historian, master storyteller

Opening Segment — Setting the Stage



Bob Costas:
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Heaven’s Dugout. Tonight, we launch Series Number 230 — a Deadball Era collision between the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1905 St. Louis Cardinals. The focus, inevitably, is on the man many call the greatest shortstop of all time — Honus Wagner. Before we dive into his legacy, let’s frame the matchup. Steve, what are we looking at here?”

Segment One — The Matchup

Steve Stone:
“This is a study in contrasts, Bob. The 1912 Pirates still had Wagner — 38 years old but still producing, still feared — alongside a disciplined roster that knew how to play station-to-station baseball. The 1905 Cardinals? They weren’t a powerhouse, but with Ed Konetchy anchoring first base, they had a cornerstone bat and a leader in the infield. If you’re looking for fireworks, this isn’t it. This is about grinding runs, stolen bases, and manufacturing victories.”

Hawk Harrelson:
“Stone, you can have your ‘grind.’ I’ll tell ya this: you got Honus Wagner in the lineup, you’re never out of a ballgame. The Cardinals can play as scrappy as they want, but Wagner is a one-man wrecking crew. He hits, he runs, he fields — he does it all. If I’m the Cardinals, I’m saying, ‘Somebody else beat us.’ Don’t let The Dutchman be the one.”

Vin Scully:
“Isn’t it marvelous, gentlemen, that here in 2025 we’re talking about a man who last played in 1917, yet his name still carries weight? Honus Wagner was the son of German immigrants, a coal miner’s boy from Pennsylvania, who turned his barrel chest and those massive hands into baseball poetry. Even Ty Cobb once said Wagner was perhaps the only man who could outshine him on a diamond. That is the shadow hanging over this entire series.”

Segment Two — The Legacy of Honus Wagner

Bob Costas:
“Vin, you’ve teed it up perfectly. Let’s talk Wagner’s legacy. Is he the greatest shortstop of all time?”

Steve Stone:
“I’d argue yes. Look at the metrics available to us — he led the league in batting eight times, he was a stolen base king, and his defensive range was legendary. People forget this was before specialized gloves and training regimens. Wagner did it with pure instinct and talent. By 1912 he wasn’t in his prime, but his presence alone changes this series.”

Hawk Harrelson:
“I’ll put it plain: You can have your modern stars, but I’ll take Honus Wagner any day of the week and twice on Sunday. He could beat you with his bat, his legs, or his glove. That’s a ballplayer. That’s why, even today, the Honus Wagner T206 card is the crown jewel — because he was the crown jewel.”

Vin Scully:
“Think of it this way: Wagner was baseball’s first complete player. In a time of spitballs, scuffed balls, and low scores, he found ways to shine. His career is a bridge — from the rough-and-tumble 19th century game into the modern era. And here he is again, in the Field of Dreams, bridging 1912 with today.”

Segment Three — Keys to the Series

Bob Costas:
“Before we close, let’s talk about what each team must do to win this series.”

Steve Stone:
“For the Pirates, it’s simple: keep Wagner upright, give him support. If the rest of the lineup does its job, he’ll find ways to break games open. For the Cardinals, they’ve got to outwork Pittsburgh. Konetchy has to be steady, and their pitching can’t afford mistakes. Every run will matter.”

Hawk Harrelson:
“I’ll go further: the Pirates win if Wagner plays like Wagner. The Cardinals win only if they make him look human. Easier said than done, Hawkeroo.”

Vin Scully:
“In the end, it’s not just about who wins or loses. It’s about honoring the game’s roots. These were men who played on dusty diamonds, traveled by train, and still made baseball magical. That’s the gift this series gives us.”

Closing Thoughts

Bob Costas:
“There you have it — the Pirates with their legend, the Cardinals with their hunger, and a Deadball Era matchup reborn in the cornfields of Iowa. Honus Wagner takes center stage, but as we’ve learned, the Field of Dreams has a way of making new heroes. Series #230 is officially underway.”

Broadcast Booth for this one will be Harry Carray:



Harry Caray, in full voice:

“Holy cow! Folks, welcome to the Field of Dreams, where we’ve got ourselves a real old-fashioned ballgame — the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates against the 1905 St. Louis Cardinals! Can you believe it? We’re goin’ all the way back to the Deadball Era. No home run derbies here, no tape-measure shots, just good ol’ fashioned hard-nosed baseball.

And let me tell ya — the Pirates bring in one of the greatest players the game has ever known: Honus Wagner. The Flying Dutchman! At 38 years old in 1912, he could still hit, still steal, still make the plays at short. You get him on base, and buddy, you better keep your eyes open.

Now the Cardinals, they’ve got Big Ed Konetchy — a first baseman with a smooth glove and a strong bat. St. Louis wasn’t the toast of the league in 1905, but Konetchy could play with anybody. You give him a chance with men on, and he’ll drive in runs the hard way.

So what’s the key? Pitching, pitching, pitching! Runs are gonna be scarce, and every bunt, every stolen base, every sacrifice fly is gonna matter. These two clubs will scrap, claw, and fight for every single tally on that scoreboard.

So buckle up, folks! This one’s gonna be a beauty — Pirates, Cardinals, the Deadball Era come alive right here in Iowa. Holy cow, I can’t wait!”