Don Wert
Born: 7/29/1938 in Strasburg, PA, USA
Died: 8/25/2024 in Strasburg, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1963-05-11 | Final Game: 1971-06-11
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 162 lbs
Full name: Donald Ralph Wert
Biography
Don Wert was a professional baseball player who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1971. Born in 1938, Wert made his mark primarily with the Detroit Tigers, where he became known for his solid defensive skills and versatility on the field. Over the course of his career, he participated in 1,110 games, accumulating 929 hits, 77 home runs, and 366 runs batted in, with a batting average of .242. His ability to contribute both at the plate and defensively earned him a spot on the All-Star team during his career, highlighting his significance in the league during the 1960s.
Wert's playing style embodied the characteristics of the era, which was marked by a focus on pitching and defense. While he was not known for overwhelming power, his contributions were vital to his team's success, particularly in clutch situations. Throughout his tenure, he also showcased his speed on the bases, finishing with 22 stolen bases. After retiring in 1971, Wert left behind a legacy as a reliable player who exemplified the hard-nosed style of baseball that characterized the time. His contributions to the Tigers and the game of baseball are remembered by fans and historians alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1110 | 3840 | 417 | 929 | 129 | 15 | 77 | 366 | 22 | 389 | 529 | 0.242 | 0.314 | 0.343 | 0.658 | -1139.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | DET | AL | 78 | 251 | 31 | 65 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 3 | 24 | 51 | 0.259 | 206.1 |
| 1964 | DET | AL | 148 | 525 | 63 | 135 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 55 | 3 | 50 | 74 | 0.257 | -2.2 |
| 1965 | DET | AL | 162 | 609 | 81 | 159 | 22 | 2 | 12 | 54 | 5 | 73 | 71 | 0.261 | 592.6 |
| 1966 | DET | AL | 150 | 559 | 56 | 150 | 20 | 2 | 11 | 70 | 6 | 64 | 69 | 0.268 | 596.6 |
| 1967 | DET | AL | 142 | 534 | 60 | 137 | 23 | 2 | 6 | 40 | 1 | 44 | 59 | 0.257 | 32.7 |
| 1968 | DET | AL | 150 | 536 | 44 | 107 | 15 | 1 | 12 | 37 | 0 | 37 | 79 | 0.200 | -1264.9 |
| 1969 | DET | AL | 132 | 423 | 46 | 95 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 50 | 3 | 49 | 60 | 0.225 | -376.6 |
| 1970 | DET | AL | 128 | 363 | 34 | 79 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 1 | 44 | 56 | 0.218 | -924.1 |
| 1971 | WS2 | AL | 20 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.050 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0.118 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | WS | DET | 6 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0.118 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 25 | 15 | 40 | 57 | 3 | 10 |
| 3B | 1043 | 998 | 914 | 1987 | 97 | 173 |
| SS | 25 | 16 | 32 | 53 | 2 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | DET | 2B | 21 | 15 | 36 | 54 | 3 | 10 |
| 1963 | DET | 3B | 47 | 45 | 33 | 99 | 6 | 6 |
| 1963 | DET | SS | 8 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 4 |
| 1964 | DET | 3B | 142 | 138 | 126 | 283 | 15 | 30 |
| 1964 | DET | SS | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 1965 | DET | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | DET | 3B | 161 | 161 | 163 | 331 | 12 | 33 |
| 1965 | DET | SS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 | DET | 3B | 150 | 148 | 128 | 253 | 11 | 20 |
| 1967 | DET | 3B | 140 | 135 | 112 | 280 | 9 | 21 |
| 1967 | DET | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1968 | DET | 3B | 150 | 147 | 142 | 284 | 15 | 22 |
| 1968 | DET | SS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | DET | 3B | 129 | 122 | 114 | 259 | 13 | 20 |
| 1970 | DET | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | DET | 3B | 117 | 100 | 94 | 191 | 14 | 20 |
| 1971 | WS2 | 2B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | WS2 | 3B | 7 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | WS2 | SS | 7 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 25 |
| Third Base | 1042 |
| Shortstop | 26 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 22.0 | 280 | 0 |