Don Wert was a third baseman for the Detroit Tigers throughout the 1960s, going to the All-Star Game and winning the World Series in 1968.
- Died: August 25, 2024 (Who else died on August 25?)
- Details of death: Died in Strasburg, Pennsylvania at the age of 86.
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Don Wert’s legacy
Don Wert played for Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania before signing to the Detroit Tigers as a free agent in 1958. He was 24 when he made his major league debut in 1963, securing the starting spot at third base, where he would remain for the next decade. Though not a strong hitter, Wert established himself as one of the best fielders in the position, and he came to be known by the nickname “Coyote.”
Wert was “Tiger of the Year” in 1965, leading the league in fielding and the team in hits, while also finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting. He had another strong year in 1966, his best at the plate, hitting .268 with 11 home runs and 70 RBI.
His career-defining year may have been 1968. Wert was selected to play in the All-Star Game, though his season was hampered in June of that year when he was struck in the head by a pitch that split his batting helmet, sent him to the hospital, and impacted the rest of his times at bat. Despite the setback, Wert knocked in Detroit’s final run of the 1968 World Series, helping them secure their comeback 4-games-to-3 victory.
His injury took its toll, and his numbers at the plate plummeted. Wert was traded to the Washington Senators in 1970, playing in just 20 games before being released. He retired from baseball, returned to Pennsylvania, and became a coach at his alma mater, Franklin & Marshall.
Tributes to Don Wert
Full obituary: The Detroit News
