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Babe’s old teammate no fan of ‘grubby’ ball players

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:29 AM
Filed Under:

By John Rutherford, Producer, NBC News, Washington

Baseball's All-Star Game was played Tuesday night at New York's Yankee Stadium, "The House that Ruth Built," but the last living teammate of the legendary Babe Ruth wasn't watching the game on television, not on your life.

"No, I haven't seen a ball game in four or five years," 100-year-old Bill Werber, the oldest living former major league baseball player, said in an interview. "I don't like the appearance of a lot of the players. The hair's too long. Their beards are too evident. They're a grubby-looking bunch of caterwaulers."

Image: Bill Werber
AP
Bill Werber smiles as he talks about his days in Major League Baseball at his retirement home in Charlotte, N.C., June 6, 2008.

Werber played baseball in a bygone era when games were half as long and twice as fun. In his first game as a Yankee, on June 25, 1930, Werber walked and Ruth swatted one of his 714 home runs.

"I said to myself, 'Well, I'll show these Yankees how I can run,'" Werber said. "So I ran around second base at high speed – I knew it was a home run – and I ran around third base, and when Babe came in, he patted me on the head and he said, 'You don't need to run fast like that when The Babe hits one.'"

When Ruth wasn't playing baseball, he was playing .. bridge.

"When the train began to roll out of Chicago for St. Louis," Werber said, "Babe would holler, 'Cut the cards,' and we'd play cards on the Green Diamond Express until Babe would give Lou [Gehrig] false bids, and Gehrig was no dummy, he'd recognize what was going on, and he'd throw the cards in the middle of the table and say, 'Add it up, let us know what we owe ya,' and they'd owe us $3, $3.50, not much."

Werber liked Ruth a lot and Gehrig not so much.

"Ruth was convivial, friendly, and Gehrig was aloof and unfriendly," Werber said. "Ruth would stop at the gates and sign autographs for an hour. Gehrig would scatter kids everywhere and get in his car and drive off."

Image: Bill Werber's baseball card, circa 1938
Courtesy Werber family
Bill Werber's baseball card, circa 1938, when he was a player for the Philadelphia A's.

Werber made one critical mistake in his own baseball career, "the most stupid thing I ever did in my life."

"I got teed off at myself one day and drop kicked the [water] bucket and fractured my big toe," he said. "I played for seven more years in pain. The stupid thing cost me dearly."

Despite this, Werber managed to carve out a .271 batting average over 11 seasons with five different ball clubs. He led the American League three times in stolen bases and hit .370 in the 1940 World Series.

Werber retired from baseball in 1942 and went into the insurance business, making more money, he said, than Ruth made hitting home runs. Werber lives today in a retirement community in North Carolina, still alert and outspoken and not about to kick the bucket.

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Comments

Pam S. in Ohio:
Thank you for putting my thoughts into words! I totally concur with every thing you said! This world could use a lot more people like you: positive and willing to speak out against the negativity! Again, thank you!

Pam W., Junction City, KS (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:05 PM)

Typical that the negative comments come from the folks up in Boston, further showing their complete lack of class or true appreciation for the game.  Just like their team, who exhibit no sportsmanship, especially Papelbom, the epitome of a caterwauler.  

Jenny, Cranford NJ (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:09 PM)

Steve B. and all the naysayers, to say say The Babe would have less home runs and wouldn't have done as well...please, older fields were bigger, not smaller; Babe would have had more by today's standards; the calculations have been done - in one season alone he would have over a hundred. To say pitchers were not as good...uh huh, they call it The CY Young Award for a reason and try that one with Bob Feller. Don't forget Ty Cobb; I guess .367 is nothing much to do. Before Babe, who was the home run king?...I'll give you a hint...there wasn't. Sports are a science today, back then it was talent - with beer and hot dogs, blood & guts, - do I dare say Barry B. It's 70 or 80+ years later and Babe & Ty have stats that still stand and some took decades to fall from the top (and they played less games per season) mind you. If today's players are far superior why can't they beat the records of the real iron men of the 'bygone era'. Everybody likes to compare, its the nature of things; but to denigrate their accomplishments shows only that you have no respect for the history of this sport. These names stand the test of time for a reason; It has to do with talent, not when they played.

Dominick, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:12 PM)

Had the privilege of meeting Bill last summer and had lunch twice with him at his nice continuing care facility.  Had about 5 hours of his stories.  Many were about his days at Duke University where he was Duke's first all-american basketball player.  One of his basketball team mates was my neighbor aboout a dozen years ago.  He enjoyed telling me stories about Bill and Bill told some good ones about my ex-neighbor.  Also had a Werber baseball card when I was a kid in the 30's and early 40's,  Baseball was really great in those days.

Dick Maag, Pinehurst, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:28 PM)

When I was a boy, I listened to Waite Hoyt, then the announcer for the Reds, talk about the same era, of Ruth and Gerhig and the rest rest of the storied Yankees of the 1930's qnd 40's. It was a different era, a more innocent time. It waa a happy memory.  We even respected our president, whether we were Democrats or Republicans.  But then we loved and knew our baseball teams.  Today we don't even recognize the lineups from week to week. Sadly, the game has chanced.

Bill Immell, Dublin, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:35 PM)

Say what you want about Mr. Werber and the Babe, but they were not arrogant, money chasing jerks who would leave thier clubs and fans behind for a few bucks more next season.Let's see how many of your hometown heros are still playing for your team 2 years from now.

Petey Richards Upper Darby, Pa. (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:37 PM)

Hang on...this is "Babe Ruth" we're talking about here, right?  Because last I knew, in addition to being the best ever, the guy was also a fat slob.  And that was when he was sober.  So don't get all weepy on me about "the good old days".  Though I must say, first hand stories about the Gods of the game really can't be beat.

Reverend Mickey, Somewhere, MA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:58 PM)

Charles, Littleton, Colo (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:02 PM)

I really enjoyed Mr. Werbers comments, I agree and disagree though,
In an era of Babe baseball, the players were drunk everynight, smoking who knows what and using whatever kinds of drugs they could find, sleeping with women that weren't their wives, I'm not saying all of them, but from what I've read through the years this is mostly true.
It doesn't differ much from today except your not going to get away with the drugs now. Most players I watch today dress well on the field, and hey, whats wrong with long hair and facial hair?
I had no idea that Gehrig wasn't more of a nicer guy(sad), but who knows, maybe he wasn't feeling well even a couple years before his death? I have a lot of respect for most players in all sports today and the past, its just sad when you have to deal with the Bonds's, Clemens, Adam Jones, the wife beaters, the drunk drivers, drug users, womanizers and liars, best of luck to you Mr. Werber!

Charles, Liitleton, Colo (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:14 PM)

To Barry P, when your older days roll around I hope you are shown as much disrespect as you have shown here. This was a great article.

Gary C. (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:20 PM)

remember this.....when the "ball" was not "live" ruth hit 60 in 27....more then the whole leauge...and against great pitching...from a mound that was 12" high not 9" like it is now.....and he no doubt could give the little nippon a challange in hot dog eating.

ivan phoenix ,az. (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:42 PM)

SUre is a shame how people keep comparing today to the past... Get over yourselves.... You think Ruth couldn'tdo the things today he did then? BOnds couldn't do what he did if it hadn't been for steroids (take that, morons) Ruth also swung with his arms, not his wrists like everyone today ... imagine the power he had to arm swing his homeruns....and further than Bonds. As far as comparing the lifestyles of players, not just MLB, seems to me that all walks of life today, all have those same detriments (money-grubbing, drinking, drugs, cheating, carousing, infidelity, etc.) THe recollections may be great, but you can't compare era to era.  

JBRD, Wilson, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:48 PM)

Barry P,

I trust we can expect something equally inane from you when you reach 80.

Steve, Phoenix AZ (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:57 PM)

I wonder what he has to say about the systematic racism of his era?

Ruth Fichter Oak Park, MI (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:07 PM)

Anthony of New Jersey, I agree with you that it seems Werber might be either A) Confused about the last time he did actually watch a game or B) Forgot about, or missed the 70s...Players looking sloppy, sporting scruffy beards and wearing their hair too long now???  With the exception of a few dudes, players these days are way more clean cut them some of the sasquatches you would see playing ball in the 70s and early 80s.  The uniforms are a different matter - he didn't seem to comment on them.  Honestly, the look of the players doesn't concern me so much as the problem of steriods, the incredible shrinking ballparks, the high price of food and beer and the outrageous salaries of these guys.  The most enlightening thing Werber mentions is that he made more money - according to him - than even the Babe himself - after he left baseball to sell insurance.  I wonder how much Babe Ruth would make today?  Cool article.  

Annie, St. Louis, MO (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:08 PM)

Hey
When Barry P. and Dave in Boston get to be 100, then maybe someone will care what they think. I hope baseball is even around. Today players are all about the money. They don't have the heart the old guys had.

Missing the old days, Wilmington, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:44 PM)

100 years old and still sharp as a tack. Of course his opinions will reflect his generation, and if you are one who negatively reacted to those opinions, why don't you ask your own grandparents or great-grandparents how they feel. Men used to wear suits to ball games; women in dresses. Ball players had class, then and now. Yes, there are a handful who behave a little less civilized than they should, but that's hardly all in the world of baseball. Just the fact that Mr. Werber can relate the stories that he has should be remarkable in itself. Who cares what his opinions are? We should all be so lucky to be able to share stories from our youth at 100 years of age, and share them as if they just happened yesterday. And the fact that he and Ruth and Gehrig didn't play against players of other races is hardly worth mentioning. A good athlete is a good athlete.  

M.J., Redmond, WA (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:34 PM)

Last year during a game in Seattle, a group of young people stood up in the stands between innings holding a sign saying, "Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma!" When they realized they were being shown on the big screen, they began pointing to a woman sitting with them. Their 100-year-old grandmother had joined them at the game. And when the crowd began to realize she was there, every person in the stadium stood up and gave her an ovation that would bring tears to your eyes. The cameras stayed on her as she stood up and waved to everyone, and even some of the players came out of the dugout and joined in the cheering. I don't care who you are, 100 years old with all the history you would have lived through, if you have memories like Mr. Werber, no one should be trying to reduce them to rubble (Barry P in Worcester, grow up... you will be looking for those early bird specials yourself one day)

Marty, Seattle (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:46 PM)

Great story! We should all admire and respect our elders they can teach us a lot about a time when things were a lot better than they are now.

Frank Sontag (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:37 PM)

Some of the superior talent of todays era are in question, due to enhancement drugs.  Babe Ruth was able to play superiorly with his drinking problem.  I do not condone that type of behavior, but he definitely deserves all the hoopla he has been given. That goes for all the records of all the old timers.  This guy desreves credit for living to 100 and being able to recall such wonderful memories.  Hey, Gehrig was hot!!!

Kathi, South Mills, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:44 PM)

I love to hear old-timers talking about their experiences, and I respect their contributions; but that doesn't mean I agree with everything they say.  Ruth may have signed autographs and been nice to the kids, but he was also a heavy drinker and exhibited plenty of bad habits.  There was bad behavior then, just as there is now, you just didn't hear about it as much. Some of the players may have been better then, but there are a lot of tremendous athletes in the game now, and I don't think this 'old-timer' necessarily has the right to belittle any of them.

I don't have a problem with facial hair or long hair.  I don't expect all the players to conform to some arbitrary standard of grooming or behavior.  I actually like the so-called 'unkempt' appearance of some of them.

Mesa, Arizona (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:39 AM)

The game that Bill and the Babe was different.But when they played baseball;they love the game.Not the money these players are getting today before they get on the field.These players played in conditions these players won't even have the guts to play in.When you love the sport you play in whether it's baseball or any other team sport;you play beacause you love it.Not the money your going to get before you get on the field.These players have to remember;the old players played this sport in these conditions to keep it going.If it wasn't for these old ball players playing back then to keep it going;these players today would be doing something else today.

martin marin,rialto,california (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 2:56 AM)

For every Barry Bonds we have a Gehrig. Whatever their personalities you should not take away their talents nor the greatness they represent in their field. In this  24x7 cable/internet world Bonds received more flak than he deserves. I think he was best player MLB ever had bar none.

Small B , Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:04 AM)

Give it up Pam S: Barry P. and Dave in Boston are just two more moron 'caterwauls' that are probably waiting for their disability checks to arrive so they can go buy drugs. Maybe the same bus will run over both of them.

J (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:24 AM)

Great article!

What a wonderful and fascinating insight into some of the history of baseball!

Regarding the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, it was considerably longer when Babe Ruth and Bill Werber were playing than it is today--noting in particular that Babe Ruth not only hit homeruns but also hit them outside of the stadium into the parking lot or whatever was in that direction:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Stadium

Today, the playing fields are smaller, which appears to make all the players look better than they actually are, which mostly is a matter of marketing that is effective when people base their judgments on beliefs rather than facts. Another important distinction is that modern baseballs tend to hit themselves without requiring so much skill on the part of players, leading one to suggest based on the laws of physics that if Ruth and Werber had been playing with the modern equipment of today, they would have been required to be certified as satellite launching devices by Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce, since the FAA and NASA had not been created yet . . .

Thanks!

JD

JD, Seattle, WA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 5:44 AM)

Bill Werber is a national treasure of a bygone era. I'd love to hear more from him and those few like him.

Roger M. Cramer Kill Devil Hills, NC (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:29 AM)

I think that most people who read stories of bygone eras, whichever they may be (science, sports, military) tend to put their own spin on that which they do not understand. The reason that millions of people come to this country every year, is that the United States, with all its problems, is still the best place in the world to live. You can write down opinions without fear of reprisal, and voice opinions on issues that you may, or may not, have any real knowledge of.

When someone considerably older than I begins waxing reminiscent on any subject, whether I feel they are right or wrong, I have to keep in mind one thing; they are experts on the subject not I. I can read books, watch TV shows, surf the net, but the information that I glean from those sources, pales in comparison to those who lived it. Again, we all have our own opinions; which we are entitled to. I was born in 1970, and am still very young compared to Mr. Werber, but as stated above in other comments, we should not impugn those who came before us.

Everything is different than it was 70 years ago. To say that the players of “back then” would not stand up to those today, is like saying that a model T would not have any chance against a Ferrari. Although you would be correct, making the comparison is really a rather strange thing say. We know so much more about sports medicine, weight training, and the human body today than they did “back then”.

I think most people forget that the only reason we have the teams that we have today, is because of pioneers like all Ruth, Brock, Irvin, Gehrig, Werber, Fingers, Gwynne, and everyone else who ever touched a child’s mind, or opened a door to a new era. A-Rod will never be looked upon as a pioneer, but that does not diminish his accomplishments. Let’s look at Mr. Werber’s story for what it really is; a reminiscent look into a lost era. I can not really blame Mr. Werber for thinking of the past in such a way. I still look back to the September 10, 2001, and remember what my life was.

Sean S. Orlando, FL (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:41 AM)

"when games were half as long and twice as fun."

Please spare me the BS nostalgia editorializing, Rutherford.

Dan, Madison, Wis. (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:27 PM)

How can I get in touch with this man? I would love to talk with him about those days and the people who played in that time.

Tom Zanette, West Chester, Pa 19380 (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 1:47 PM)

how can i get in touch with this man? I would like to talk with him about those days that he played in...

Tom Zanette, West Chester, Pa 19380 (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 1:48 PM)

A privilege to have read that.  Smiles all around.

Bobby in Houston (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 2:34 PM)

This article was truly enjoyable. Interesting to see that he actually verified things that I had heard about Gehrig (According to an article I read once, he was also an incredible miser).

The comments, however, are truly laughable. For every person praising the article, there's a person using it to take shots as current players sense of style (Judge tattoos all you want, but all the tilted caps in the world don't diminish the amount of training these guys do), and then there's another person claiming the older players would be useless today.

The point is that it's different. Players today put in more time and effort, most of them have basically been bread to be professional athletes, and they are subject to the 24/7 sports media. You'll have to excuse them for being a bit out of touch at time. And in the old days, guys weren't about the money because there was no money. I'm sure there were plenty of men in the country who would've been better ball players than the ones out there, but didn't do it because they got higher paying jobs. The balls were dead, but the pitchers were worse. Things change. Maybe the best players aren't better or worse, but the average player now is much better than the average player then. That's progress, and the old timers are the reason it is that way now.

So old timers, stop ragging on the new players. There's no such thing as the good old days, and people don't have to dress like you to play hard. And young folks, stop ragging on the old players. You never even saw them, and you have them to thank for the baseball you love now.

Mike, Brooklyn (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 5:08 PM)

You missed his greatest story about Lefty Grove.  (Paraphrasing from the WaPo article.)  A scout comes down to backwoods Georgia to find Grove and sees him strolling out of the woods with rabbit pelts tied to his belt.  The scout asks him where's his gun and Grove replies he doesn't use one.  Grove picks up a rock with his right-hand, points to a leaf 50 feet away and nails it.  Scout is in awe, but says "Wait a minute, I thought you were a lefty."  Grove's reply?  "I am, but whenever I hit the rabbits throwing lefty it tears up the meat inside."

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:07 PM)

He published a very entertaining book around 2001 co authored by Paul Rogers.  "Memories of a Ballplayer"  Available at Amazon etc.  Very good stories. He donated many books to the military and VA system.

He was also close personal friends with JW Marriott and encouraged him around 1950 NOT to go into the hotel business, "it's a seedy lot".  At his 100 yr birthday party, Bill Marriott said, "as we head into this recession, he may have been right!"

JB, Washington, DC (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:36 PM)

Kelly C, I am with you, Barry P, Worcester is a person who should just take a nice long swim underwater and not come back up.

perhaps he's got nothing good to say about anyone but himself? From what I've read he's written, I would not assume I'd be wrong in thinking he would be the only person saying something nice about himself anyway...

Jack, Chicago, IL (Sent Saturday, July 19, 2008 11:26 AM)

figures there are a bunch of manny lovers from boston here...the home of this country's most classless/obnoxious fans....18 and 1 sums it up pretty well. A recent poll confirmed that every state of the union named Boston/Mass as having this country's most despised fans...just gotta laugh...you folks deserve Manny being Manny...looked like he was trying to sit on the baseball he flubbed in the outfield yesterday....guess he laid a big egg he figured he might as well incubate it!!!...LOL!

Anthony Mosich (Sent Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:16 PM)

History coming from first hand accounts is always the best.  I wish we had more stories like this

Paul, Pearland, TX (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 2:36 AM)

so he didnt have a problem with the ballplayers apparences back in say the 70s? with beards and long hair and sideburns down the cheek and afros out to here?

bill, providence, ri (Sent Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:39 AM)



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