recognizing that wagner should be playing at the highest level, barrow contacted the louisville colonels, who had finished last in the national league in 1896 with a record of 38-93. they were doing better in 1897 when barrow persuaded club president barney dreyfuss, club secretary harry pulliam, and outfielder-manager fred clarke to go to paterson to see wagner play. dreyfuss and clarke were not impressed with the awkward-looking man, not surprising, as wagner was oddly built – 5-feet-11, 200 pounds, with a barrel chest, massive shoulders, heavily muscled arms, huge hands, and incredibly bowed legs that deprived him of any grace and several inches of height. pulliam, though, persuaded dreyfuss and clarke to take a chance on him. wagner debuted with louisville on july 19, and hit .338 in 61 games.