Paul Waner

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Lore & Background

Known for his smooth, compact swing and exceptional plate discipline, he rarely struck out and could hit to all fields. This approach made him a nightmare for opposing pitchers who hoped to exploit the dimensions of Forbes Field. His relationship with his brother Lloyd Waner, "Little Poison," created one of baseball's most famous sibling acts. Both played center field at times for the Pirates, confusing opponents and delighting fans with their synchronized skill sets. Together they embodied the speed and contact philosophy that defined Pittsburgh baseball in the 1930s. Beyond his hitting, Waner was a steady leader during financially difficult years. While other stars departed or slumped due to economic pressures of the Depression, Waner maintained elite standards. His presence provided stability for management and hope for fans who watched from the grandstands at Forbes Field.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Forbes Field smelled of cut grass and old tobacco as Paul stepped into the batter's box. It was a humid July afternoon in 1927, and the crowd hummed with anticipation. He tapped his cleats against the dirt, adjusting the grip on his hickory bat. The pitcher wound up, the ball spinning through the light, and Waner swung with effortless grace, sending the leather sphere screaming toward right-center field.

Reader's Guide

During this era, Pittsburgh relied heavily on contact hitting and speed rather than raw power, with Waner leading the charge from right field. His immediate impact transformed a struggling lineup into a perennial contender throughout the late twenties and early thirties. He captured three National League batting titles while mentoring younger players and maintaining elite defensive standards in right field. This period established the Pirates as a model of efficiency in an age before home runs dominated the sport entirely. His departure marked the end of the franchise's most consistent hitting dynasty prior to the impact of World War II on rosters. The team struggled to replicate his production immediately afterward, highlighting how central his presence was to Pittsburgh's identity during that decade. This era remains a touchstone for understanding the Pirates' historical reliance on high-average hitters and consistent performance over power numbers.

Did You Know?

• Waner set the National League record for consecutive games with an extra-base hit, with 14 (June 3–19, 1927); since then this feat has also been accomplished by Chipper Jones in 2006.
• On August 26, 1926, Waner collected six hits in six at-bats during a game against the Giants, using six different bats from six different players.
• Waner had astigmatism and preferred not to wear glasses on the field because without them the ball looked grapefruit-sized, helping him hit the center more often.
• In 1935, manager Pie Traynor suggested Waner give up hard liquor and switch to beer, but after a poor start, Traynor told him to have whiskey instead; Waner then hit .331 the rest of the season.
• Waner and his brother Lloyd hold the record for the most hits recorded by brothers (5,611).

The Rise of Big Poison

Paul Glee Waner, affectionately known as "Big Poison," emerged from humble beginnings in Harrah, Oklahoma Territory, to become one of baseball's most formidable hitters. Born before Oklahoma achieved statehood, he was the third of five children raised on a farm where his father, Ora, had once declined a professional contract to tend crops. Waner's unique batting style reportedly stemmed from childhood practice hitting corncobs, which taught him to track movement effectively. Interestingly, he suffered from astigmatism; while glasses made the ball appear smaller and clearer, he preferred playing without them because the blurred vision made the baseball look like a grapefruit, allowing him to make more consistent contact with the center of the sphere. After dropping out of East Central State Teachers College to pursue professional baseball against his father's wishes for a teaching career, Waner honed his skills in minor leagues across Missouri and Oklahoma before dominating the Pacific Coast League with San Francisco Seals. His exceptional .378 average over three seasons there caught the eye of Major League scouts, setting the stage for his historic transition to Pittsburgh.

Dominance with the Pirates

After being purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates in late 1925 for a substantial $100,000 alongside teammate Hal Rhyne, Waner immediately established himself as an offensive force. His rookie year saw him hit .336 and lead the league in triples, but his second season in 1927 was nothing short of legendary. That year, he captured the National League Most Valuable Player Award after recording a then-team-record 237 hits, leading the circuit in batting average with .380, runs scored, and RBIs. He also set a major league record by hitting an extra-base hit in 14 consecutive games. Alongside his younger brother Lloyd, who was also starring on the roster, Paul helped propel Pittsburgh to the World Series, where he batted .333 despite the team's eventual sweep by the New York Yankees. Waner maintained this elite production for years, collecting over 200 hits in eight different seasons and securing three National League batting titles. His consistency was remarkable; from 1927 through 1930, he posted four consecutive 200-hit campaigns, solidifying his reputation as the greatest outfielder in Pirates history up to that point.

Historic Milestones and Records

Waner's career includes extraordinary statistical achievements that rank him among baseball's all-time greats. On June 19, 1942, he became the seventh player in history to reach 3,000 hits, getting a single off pitcher Rip Sewell. His ability to hit for extra bases was exceptional; he holds the National League record for doubles in a single season with 62, set in 1932, and his career total of 605 doubles ranks 14th all-time. Additionally, his 191 triples are the most by any player whose entire career occurred during the live-ball era. Defensively, Waner dominated, leading the National League in putouts four times and holding the career record for most putouts by a right fielder. His .333 batting average earned him election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952. In 2007, the Pittsburgh Pirates formally honored his legacy by retiring his number 11 jersey.

The Waner Brothers Legacy

Few sibling duos have impacted professional sports like Paul and Lloyd Waner. Both brothers were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming only the second pair of brothers to do so after Harry and George Wright. Their combined offensive output was staggering; together, they amassed 5,611 hits, a record for any set of brothers in baseball history. During their peak years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially in 1927, they formed an inseparable duo that terrorized opposing pitchers, combining for 460 hits in that single season alone. Paul's path opened the door for Lloyd, who joined him in the majors and eventually followed his brother to Cooperstown. The Waner name became a standard for hitting excellence, as both brothers led their respective leagues in various offensive categories throughout their careers. Their journey from an Oklahoma farm to the highest levels of baseball created a unique family legacy still celebrated by historians and fans.

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