Don wert detroit tigers biography of mahatma

Willie horton detroit tigers Wert played for the Tigers from his debut until Wert never received an MVP vote in any other season, but he was actually a little better in That is called a business expense. Previous Reading.

Don Wert

American baseball player (–)

Baseball player

Don Wert

Wert in

Third baseman
Born:()July 29,
Strasburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: August 24, () (aged&#;86)
Strasburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

May 11,&#;,&#;for the&#;Detroit Tigers
June 11,&#;,&#;for the&#;Washington Senators
Batting average
Home runs77
Runs batted in
Stats at Baseball Reference&#;

Donald Ralph Wert (July 29, – August 24, ), nicknamed "Coyote",[1][2] was an American professional baseball player.

He played in Major League Baseball from to as a third baseman, most prominently as a member of the Detroit Tigers where he was an All-Star player and was a member of the World Series winning team.

Although he was overshadowed by his contemporary, Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, Wert earned a reputation as one of the best fielding third basemen in Major League Baseball.[3] He played his final season with the Washington Senators in [4]

Early life and education

Wert was born in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County on July 29, [4] He attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball for the Diplomats.[3][5] He was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in and played several years in the minor leagues.[4]

Career in Major League Baseball

Wert reached the major leagues in at the age of 24 and became the Tigers' regular third baseman in He remained their starting third baseman through the season.

Though never a strong hitter, Wert earned a reputation as one of the best fielding third basemen.[3] In , Wert played all games for the Tigers and led all American League third basemen with a fielding percentage, marking the only year in the s that a third baseman other than Brooks Robinson had led the league in fielding.[4][6] He also led the team with hits, had a on-base percentage fueled by a career-high 73 walks, and even showed some power with hit 12 home runs.[4] With his performance in , Wert was selected for the first annual "Tiger of the Year" by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, and also finished No.

10 in the American LeagueMost Valuable Player voting.[4][7][8] Wert had his best season as a batter in , when he had a batting average, on-base percentage, 20 doubles, 11 home runs, and 70 runs batted in.[4]

On June 24, , during a game in which Jim Northrup hit two grand slams, Wert was struck in the head by a pitch from Hal Kurtz of the Cleveland Indians.[9] The pitch split Wert's batting helmet.[10] He was carried off on a stretcher, spent two nights in the hospital, missed several games, and "was never the same hitter after that".[11] He had never hit lower than in five prior seasons, but his batting average dropped to a career-low in , as he managed only hits in at bats.[4]

Despite his low average, Wert was selected to the roster of the American League All Star Team by American League managerDick Williams and doubled off Tom Seaver in the eighth inning, but was stranded in a 1–0 loss.[12] He recorded a ninth inning, game-winning hit on September 17 to clinch the American League pennant.[13][14] Wert also singled in Detroit's final run of the World Series, driving in Dick Tracewski with two out in the top of the ninth inning in St.

Louis, completing the Tigers' comeback to top the defending Series champs, 4–1, winning the series, 4 games to 3.[5][15]

On July 15, , with President Richard Nixon attending the game in Washington, Wert started a triple play on a ground ball hit by Ed Brinkman.[16] On July 9, , Wert was involved in a bizarre play when Dalton Jones hit a fly ball into the upper deck with the bases loaded.[17] What should have been a grand slam ended up being three-RBI single, as Jones passed Wert between first and second base.

Jones was called out. Jones later blamed Wert, noting that Wert should have been halfway to second base, prepared to advance if it was a home run, and prepared to return to first if it was caught. Instead, Jones recalled that Wert was returning to first to tag up, and Jones passed Wert one or two steps past first base.[18]

On October 9, , the Tigers traded Wert and Denny McLain to the Washington Senators in an eight-player deal that brought Ed Brinkman, Aurelio Rodríguez, and Joe Coleman to the Tigers.[19] Wert played 20 games for the Senators in [4] He was batting (two hits in 40 at bats) when he was released on June 24, [4]

Over nine seasons in the major leagues, Wert played in 1, games and had a batting average, hits, runs scored, walks, runs batted in, doubles, and 77 home runs.[4] Wert played 1, of his games at third base and collected putouts, 1, assists, and double plays.[4]

Death

Wert died at his Strasburg home on August 24, , at the age of [15][20]

References

  1. ^"Home – This Day In Baseball".

    October 22,

  2. ^Hawkins, Jim; Ewald, Dan; Dusen, George Van (August 26, ).

  3. Item 1 of 1
  4. Don Wert - BaseballBiography.com
  5. Don Wert Describes Getting to, Winning World Series
  6. Don Wert's memorable hit for 1968 Tigers masked a mental ...
  7. Settings
  8. The Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN&#; &#; via Google Books.

  9. ^ abcThe Second Best Third Baseman, by Ed Rumill, Baseball Digest, June , Vol. 27, No. 5, ISSN&#;X
  10. ^ abcdefghijkl"Don Wert Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More".

    .

  11. ^ abMilner, John. "Don Wert".

    Norm cash detroit tigers: As always, Great job with the stitching and quality! During his career, Wert was known to battle weight problems — not the kind that you might think. At one point in time, a future in baseball seemed like a long shot. Share this: Tweet.

    . Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved August 27,

  12. ^Baseball Digest, July , P, Vol. 60, No. 7[permanent dead link&#;], ISSN&#;X
  13. ^"Detroit Tiger of the Year Award &#; Baseball Almanac". .
  14. ^" Awards Voting".

    Jim northrup detroit tigers A smooth fielder and durable ballplayer, he was part of the championship team. On Sept. View all posts by Sam Gazdziak. On a slider, Wert drove the ball between second baseman Horace Clarke and first baseman Mickey Mantle.

    .

  15. ^"Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: June 24, ". .
  16. ^Wallner, Peter J. (August 6, ). "Don Wert's memorable hit for Tigers masked a mental battle at plate". MLive.

  17. Norm cash detroit tigers
  18. Ray oyler detroit tigers
  19. 1968 detroit tigers roster
  20. Retrieved November 3,

  21. ^"The Detroit-Tigers Baseball's Last Pure Champion". . Archived from the original() on September 8,
  22. ^" All-Star Game Box Score, July 9". .
  23. ^"Former Tigers slick-fielding third baseman Don Wert enjoyed career, despite oversight in season".

    July 25,

  24. ^Samoray, Jeff (). "September 17, Unlikely heroes Sparma, Wert clinch AL pennant for Tigers – Society for American Baseball Research".

    John hiller detroit tigers Does that sound like a way to treat a customer? Tools Tools. Donald Ralph Wert was born in Strasburg on July 29, Just have a look at the man!

  25. ^ abHenning, Lynn (August 26, ). "Don Wert, one of Tigers' heroes from World Series champion, dies at 86". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 29,
  26. ^"Detroit Tigers vs Washington Senators Box Score: July 15, ". .
  27. ^"Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Box Score: July 9, ".

    .

  28. ^Crass, Murray (July 10, ). "Roundup: Tigers Triumph on a 'Grand Slam' Single".

    Don wert detroit tigers biography of mahatma Jones was called out. Will recommend to everyone and order from here again. Over nine seasons in the major leagues, Wert played in 1, games and had a. His improvement was rapid.

    The New York Times.

  29. ^"Don Wert Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac". .
  30. ^Birkle, Andrew (August 26, ). "Don Wert, Detroit Tigers All-Star third baseman on World Series team, dies at 86". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 26,

External links