Honus (The Dutchman) Wagner was born February 24, 1874. He was an American Major League shortstop and played in the National Baseball League from 1897 to 1917.
We remember him not only because he was a great hitter and tremendous athlete, but because he stood for something that he truly believed. You see, Honus played ball back in the day when everyone smoked or chewed tobacco. He was a christian man and didn’t want to promote these kinds of products to youth. These were the days when baseball cards were sold by the thousands to fans. The cards had a picture of the athlete on the front and a place for advertisement on the opposite side, but this particular baseball card happened to be advertising cigarettes.
When Honus learned that cards bearing his picture were being circulated beside cigarette ads, he had to make a quick decision. The Dutchman was faced with the choice of accountability. Knowing his integrity was on the line, he stood up and demanded recall of the cards. He told the tobacco company that he didn't want his name associated with something he opposed, and he refused to bend or comply. While other great baseball players left their faces on the front of these cards, his cards were pulled from the shelves! Only a few Honus Wagner cards found their way into the hands of the public and it's believed there are three in existence today. The Honus Wagner card is worth more than any other baseball card in the world and is valued around $3,000,000.00.
What is this card telling us about the value of integrity? This rare and amazing baseball card is screaming, “Do the right thing for the right reason, it’s the only way to create lasting worth and great value.”
Perhaps Honus could have been forgotten through time, but today his legacy lives on because of the standard he set. This great man was not willing to compromise his principles or concede... not for money or for fame! Written by, Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.
