View Full Version : The Amazing Billy Werber
Archive
03-07-2006, 03:14 PM
Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Billy Werber is one of the two living players from the 1934 Goudey set. The other living player Linus Frey is alive and well in Idaho. They both comprised the left-side of the infield for the 1940 World Champion Cincinnati Reds. Mr. Werber is a living baseball encylopedia. He broke in as a rookie on a team the comprised of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and a myriad of other Hall of Famers. He also led the league in stolen bases 3 times in the 1930's, and was an offensive force in the 1940 World Series. Not only that, Mr. Werber was the first ever hitter on the first nationally televised baseball game. If that isn't enough, Werber was the FIRST. ever All-American in basketball from the storied Duke program. At almost 98 years of age, Mr. Werber is alive and well in North Carolina. I sent him a letter of appreciation and autograph request to his home in North Carolina. I got this back today. Definitely very cherished by me!<br /><br />James<br /><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/brooksie05/1938goudeywerber.jpg"><br /><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/brooksie05/Baseball%20HOF%20and%20Star%20Autographs/williamwerber.jpg"><br /><br />
Archive
03-07-2006, 03:48 PM
Posted By: <b>Chris Counts</b><p>That's a real treasure, James! I wasn't aware of his basketball career ... I recently read where former shortstop and NL MVP Dick Groat was the school's first All-American ... I'm particularly interested in Bill Werber because I collect cards from the 1939-40 Reds teams that won pennants (and won the World Series in '40). For some reason, there don't appear to be any Play Ball cards of Werber (Play Balls are also missing Bob Feller, many Cardinals and all Cubs except Charlie Grimm, among others). The only card I've found of him from that era is a 1941 Double Play with Frank McCormick. I'm pretty sure there is a W711 of him, as well as several other team issued cards of that era. If anybody has one of these they'd consider parting with, I'm interested ...
Archive
03-07-2006, 04:26 PM
Posted By: <b>Al Crisafulli</b><p>That sure is one ugly Goudey, James. Where'd you get it? <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Glad you got the signature. Mr. Werber seems like a terrific guy.<br /><br />-Al
Archive
03-07-2006, 04:38 PM
Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>That is really cool...congrats....he seems like a great sport....hope I am when I'm in my 90's......