Billy Werber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billy Werber |
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: June 20, 1908 Berwyn Heights, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Died: January 22, 2009 (aged 100) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 25, 1930, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 5, 1942, for the New York Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .271 | ||
| Home runs | 78 | ||
| Runs batted in | 539 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Murray Werber (June 20, 1908 – January 22, 2009) was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants.
Billy was known for being a strong baserunner. He led the American League in stolen bases three times. He also led the National League in runs in 1939. That year, his team, the Cincinnati Reds, won the pennant. He was born in Berwyn Heights, Maryland. He batted and threw with his right hand.
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Billy Werber's Baseball Journey
Billy Werber was about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds. Before playing professional baseball, he went to Duke University in North Carolina. At Duke, he was a talented athlete. He earned All-America honors in both basketball and baseball. He was the first Duke basketball player to achieve this honor.
After college, Billy officially joined the New York Yankees in 1930. He only played in four games that season. He was then sent to the minor leagues to get more experience. In his first professional game, he got on base five times. One time, he was so nervous he couldn't swing the bat. He just watched four pitches go by, and the umpire called them all balls.
In 1933, the Yankees traded Billy to the Boston Red Sox. He played in 108 games for Boston that year. He was a utility infielder, meaning he could play many positions. He played shortstop, second base, and third base.
Becoming a Star Third Baseman
In 1934, Billy Werber became the main third baseman for the Red Sox. He had a great year. He hit for a .321 batting average, which was his best ever. He also got 200 hits. Billy led the American League with 40 stolen bases that season. He also hit 41 doubles, 10 triples, and 11 home runs.
He continued to be a top base stealer. He led the league in stolen bases again in 1935 (with 29) and in 1937 (with 35). In 1937, Boston traded him to the Philadelphia Athletics. Then, in 1939, he joined the Cincinnati Reds.
Making History with the Reds
In his first season with the National League, Billy made history. On August 26, 1939, he became the first player ever to bat on television during a game. This happened when Cincinnati played the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He finished that season with a .289 batting average. He also led the league with 115 runs scored.
After the regular season, the Reds played the Yankees in the 1939 World Series. Unfortunately, Cincinnati lost in four games. But the next year, 1940, was a big one for Billy and the Reds. Even though his batting numbers were a bit lower, he was excellent at fielding. He led the league with a .962 fielding average. He also finished 10th in the voting for the National League's MVP Award.
The 1940 World Series was special because the Yankees did not win it. Cincinnati beat the Detroit Tigers in seven exciting games. Billy Werber was a key player, leading the Reds with a .370 batting average in the series. He got 10 hits in 27 tries. Billy still holds a Major League record today. He is the only player to hit four doubles in a row in both the American League and the National League. After his time with the Reds, he played his last major league season with the New York Giants in 1942.
Career Highlights and Later Life
Over his 11-season career, Billy Werber had a .271 batting average. He hit 78 home runs and had 539 runs batted in (RBI) in 1,295 games. He was one of the most aggressive baserunners of his time, stealing 215 bases. In 1961, he was honored by being inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Billy was known as a tough player who worked hard. He liked to outsmart his opponents. For example, he once took second base on a walk. He noticed the catcher was arguing with the umpire about the "ball four" call, so he quickly ran to the next base.
After he stopped playing baseball, Billy Werber had a very successful business career. He started selling pension plans. His hard work and good communication skills helped him a lot. He eventually took over the Werber Insurance Agency, which his father started in 1904. He was a top performer until he retired in the early 1970s.
Billy loved to tell stories about his life. He often shared tales of playing with famous baseball legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He also wrote three books: Circling the Bases (1978), Hunting Is for the Birds (1981), and Memories of a Ballplayer (2001).
Death
Billy Werber passed away on January 22, 2009, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 100 years old.
When he died, Billy Werber was recognized as the oldest living former player in Major League Baseball. He was also the very last surviving teammate of the legendary Babe Ruth.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of centenarians (Major League Baseball players)
- List of centenarians (sportspeople)
