Vic Wertz

Vic Wertz

Birthdate	2/9/1925
Death Date	7/7/1983
Debut Year	1947
Year of Induction
Teams	Browns, Indians, Orioles, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins
Positions	First Base, Right Field

Vic Wertz is a four-time all star who finished in the American League’s top ten in homers seven times; he received MVP votes in five seasons.

Vic Wertz was a reliable slugger who played for four teams in his 17-year career

Vic Wertz played Major League Baseball from 1947-1963 splitting time between first base and field. He slugged 20 or more homers six times and drove in 100 or more runs in five seasons. Wertz’s debut came on April 15, 1947, the same day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Wertz recorded t

Vic Wertz embraced Willie Mays' spectacular catch of his drive in the 1954 World Series

Though he played 20 professional seasons – 17 in the bigs – Vic Wertz is best remembered for making a memorable out in the 1954 World Series. Playing in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, Wertz was having a performance to remember. Wertz hit a two-run triple to deep right field in the first inn

Many regard Mays' catch as the greatest in World Series play

In the collection is this 1958 letter from Baseball Hall of Fame director Sid Keener. He’s responding to a fan’s request to compare two of the greatest catches in World Series history. Is Willie Mays‘ catch of Vic Wertz’s drive in ’54 the best in World Series history? Or is Al Gionfriddo’s grab of Joe DiMaggio’s shot down the left field line in the ’47 tilt better?

A Story about Vic Wertz

Vic Wertz did much more than fly out to Willie Mays in the ’54 World Series

May 1st, 2021 Leave a comment

World Series heroics in a losing cause Vic Wertz played over 1,000 big league games by the time he reached his only World Series in 1954. Once he got to baseball’s biggest stage he was sensational. In Game 1 Wertz opened the scoring with a two-run triple to deep right. In his next two at bats, Wertz hit sharp singles. Then in the 8th inning and the score tied 2-2, Wertz came to bat with two runners on. The first baseman ripped a line drive to deep centerfield in New York’s cavernous Polo Grounds. Giants center fielder Willie Mays turned his back to the plate and sprinted toward the wall. Mays caught up to it and made a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab 450 feet from the plate. “The Catch” brought the 52,751 fans in attendance to their feet. The Giants won the game 5-2 in ten innings. Though his Indians were swept in the Series, Wertz went 8-for-16 with four extra-base hits. For Mays the Game 1 play was another memorable moment in a career filled with them. With 660 homers, 24 all star appearances, 12 straight Gold Gloves and two MVP Awards, he is regarded by many as the game’s […]