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Billy Werber

Positions: Third Baseman, Shortstop and Leftfielder
Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right
5-10, 170lb (178cm, 77kg)
Born: June 20, 1908 in Berwyn, MD us
Died: January 22, 2009 in Charlotte, NC
Buried: Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, NC
High School: McKinley HS (Berwyn, MD)
School: Duke University (Durham, NC)
Debut: June 25, 1930 (Age 22-005d, 7,098th in major league history)
vs. SLB 3 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: September 5, 1942 (Age 34-077d)
vs. BRO 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: William Murray Werber
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

Notable Events and Chronology for Billy Weber Career

SearchSearch Events, Dates and More Date (Newest)Title (A - Z)

August 12, 1934

41,766 turn out to Fenway Park to see what will probably be Babe Ruth’s last game in Boston

February 23, 1940

1940 Cincinnati Reds

January 19, 2009

Bill Werber, the oldest ex-major leaguer and last living teammate of Babe Ruth, dies at the age of 100. The former infielder, who played for the Yankees, Red Sox, A’s, Reds, and Giants, became the first player to appear in a televised game when he batted leadoff for Cincinnati in a contest played against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field on August 26, 1939.

Biography

Werber, the first All-American basketball player at Duke University, signed with the Yankees after his senior year. Scout Paul Krichell said he had “the best baseball legs I ever saw, including Cobb.” Werber won the AL basestealing title with the Red Sox in 1934 and 1935 and tied for it while with the A’s in 1937. He once reached second base on a walk while Detroit catcher Ray Hayworth was talking to the umpire. He was the first player to hit four consecutive doubles in one AL game (7/17/35) and on May 13, 1940 became the only man to do so in both leagues.

When Werber held out for $1,500 more than Connie Mack was willing to pay, the A’s traded him to Cincinnati in 1939. The Reds gave him the raise, but he turned it back to the club at the end of the season. A fiery competitor, he formed the “Jungle Club” for hustling players, spurring the previously lethargic Reds to pennants in 1939 and 1940. He was the first player to bat in a televised game, leading off for the Reds against Brooklyn, August 26, 1939

Smart on the Bases
Werber was one of the most aggresive baserunners of the 1930s, probably the most aggressive next to Ben Chapman. A story from his book, Memories of a Ballplayer, illustrates his craftiness on the basepaths.

“Charlie Gehringer had one flaw in his defensive play: He always positioned himself in front of the bag to receive the catcher’s throw on attempted steals of second,” Werber wrote. That meant he had to catch the ball and reach back to tag the runner, so I only gave him the toe of my shoe on the outside of the bag when I was stealing. Many times he could not reach me, so I stole more bases against Detroit than against any other team in the American League.”

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