Results tagged “Vic Wertz” from York Town Square

Amy Staub submitted this photograph for publication in the new book Capture York. It shows her grandfather, Franklin Armold, and his wife, Lillian while out for a motorcycle ride in the 1920s. Also of interest: All presidential visits from the start and Washington Township, Jefferson Borough, Madison Avenue. How about an Obama Street in York County? and Yo, Yoe never was Yohe.

Years ago, Sam Snyder, Yoe borough council president, garnered a box of letters at a York County auction.

The writer?

Chester Alan Arthur.

That turned out to be Chester A. Arthur, future president of the United States... .

The New York Giants' Willie Mays makes what has become known as "The Catch" of York County native and Cleveland Indians Vic Wertz's long fly ball in the 1954 World Series. Mays amazing play overshadowed Wertz's stellar performance in that series. Background posts: Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties? and York County sports a miniature Cooperstown and Story answers much about great athlete Hinkey Haines, including origin of his nickname.

I've written before about York native and major league baseball player Vic Wertz.

All he did was hit .500 in the 1954 World Series in which his Cleveland Indians lost to the New York Giants.

He returned from a bout with polio to hit 32 home runs.

Late in his career, he broke his ankle and came back to play on.

But it was that World Series and Willie Mays' over-the-shoulder grab of Wertz's long fly ball that relegated Vic Wertz to baseball's "almost-great" list.

But this post really isn't about baseball.

In a York Sunday News column (11/1/09), I compare Vic Wertz to his native York County, Pa., a kind of human metaphor for this south central Pennsylvania county ... .

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New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays hauls a 450-foot fly ball in the Polo Grounds' cavernous center field off the bat of Cleveland's - and York, Pa.'s - Vic Wertz during the first game of the 1954 World Series. The Giants won a 5-2 victory, thanks, in part, to Mays' handiwork. Background posts: Old York lefty remembered young Brooks Robinson and The Tuleyas: A love story, not baseballs and hand grenades and Adding to York baseball timeline: Revs ready for 'second helping'.

York Town Square viewer Bill Landes raised a good question in a comment about a recent post of major leaguer from York/Adams.

"I thought Vic Wertz had some connection to York?"

Yes, indeed.

The York native played outfield and first base for 17 seasons with six teams - the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins... .