It's a funny thing how a player gets a nickname.
Some are easy: Rube, Killer, Pee Wee, Lefty. Some take a little more explaining: Piano Legs, Oyster, Some are plain funny: The Human Rain Delay.
John Barney Miller was a world champion after his rookie season in 1909. The second baseman made his debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 16.
Most baseball fans wouldn't be able to name a single one of his teammates, except one: Honus Wagner.
The Flying Dutchman is arguably one of the greatest ballplayers of all time. An inaugural member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he won eight batting titles.
Technically speaking, even "Honus" was a nickname. His given name was Johannes Peter Wagner. "Honus" was probably a take off Johannes and "The Flying Dutchman" payed homage to his speed and his German (Deutsch) background.
One day, Wagner was asked by someone where his second baseman was.
He replied by pointing in John's direction and saying, in a heavy German accent: "Dots (that's) Miller."
5 comments:
Boy the color on that is still awesome. Nice looking card even with the distress.
Awesome card. I wish I could come across more of these.
That is great color on the card. And I can name most of Dots Miller's teammates, which probably says more about me than I like.
Great Story. Is it true?
The story of Wagner giving miller his nickname is true. I am his great nephew.
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