"adornment of the hardware" query

[Gerald Cohen]

    Would anyone have any idea what "adornment of he hardware" means
in the passage below?  It's in a baseball column of the _San
Francisco Bulletin_, April 8, 1913, p.14, col. 1. The general context
is one in which the manager is debating which of his players to
release in order to bring the roster down to its required size.  But
it is not at all clear how "adornment of the hardware" fits into this
context.
    Any suggestions/leads/etc. would be much appreciated.

---Gerald Cohen

  "[Manager] Del is known to be at a loss as to what to do with Joe
Wagner.  Joe was at first threatened with an adornment of the
hardware, but then it became known that he was suffering from a
growth on his leg which necessitated removal and which was
undoubtedly responsible for his slowness at second.  Since his
recovery he has been stinging the ball on the nose, and there is a
possibility that he will prove a man of sterling worth to the club.
He at least merits a trial."
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