Werhas was drafted by the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 1960, however, chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead. He batted .248 with 26 home runs and 127 runs batted in through three seasons in the minors before having a breakthrough 1963 season with the Spokane Indians. He edged out Ken McMullen for the Dodgers' starting third base job out of spring training1964.[4] After batting just .169 with eight RBIs through the first 33 games of the season, however, he was displaced by Jim Gilliam, who started the season playing second base. Werhas enjoyed a career game shortly after losing his starting job on May 28, going three-for-four with a walk and run scored in a seventeen-inning marathon with the Cincinnati Reds that ended in a 2-2 tie,[5] but was soon returned to Spokane, regardless. He batted .309 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs for Spokane.
He returned to the Dodgers when rosters expanded in September 1965, going hitless with one walk and a run scored in three pinch hitplate appearances. The only time Werhas took the field was at first base in the final game of the season.[6]
Werhas' final major league at bat came with the Angels that season. He remained with the organization through 1970 before heading to Japan in 1971 to play for the Taiyo Whales. In the first trade between a Japanese and an American team, he was dealt to the San Diego Padres' Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Hawaii Islanders, for longtime major leaguer Clete Boyer.[9] He retired following the 1973 season.
Werhas and his wife, Kay, have two children. His daughter is married to former Minnesota Twins and New York YankeespitcherDan Naulty.
Referencesedit
^Tom Verducci (June 4, 2012). "To Cheat or Not to Cheat". Sports Illustrated.
^. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
October 26, 2023
johnny, werhas, john, charles, werhas, born, february, 1938, highland, park, michigan, former, major, league, baseball, third, baseman, pastor, rock, community, church, anaheim, hills, california, retired, from, this, position, august, 2015, moved, oregon, spe. John Charles Werhas born February 7 1938 in Highland Park Michigan is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who was a pastor for The Rock Community Church in Anaheim Hills California 1 He retired from this position on August 23 2015 and moved to Oregon to spend time with his wife of many years 2 Johnny WerhasWerhas circa 1967Third basemanBorn 1938 02 07 February 7 1938 age 85 Highland Park MichiganBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutApril 14 1964 for the Los Angeles DodgersLast MLB appearanceSeptember 30 1967 for the California AngelsMLB statisticsBatting average 173Home runs2Runs scored15TeamsLos Angeles Dodgers 1964 1967 California Angels 1967 Werhas was an All American third baseman for the University of Southern California Trojans baseball team He also played forward for the Trojans basketball team earning All PCC honors and honorable mention All American recognition in 1959 He was inducted into the school s Hall of Fame in 2007 3 Werhas was drafted by the NBA s Los Angeles Lakers in 1960 however chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead He batted 248 with 26 home runs and 127 runs batted in through three seasons in the minors before having a breakthrough 1963 season with the Spokane Indians He edged out Ken McMullen for the Dodgers starting third base job out of spring training 1964 4 After batting just 169 with eight RBIs through the first 33 games of the season however he was displaced by Jim Gilliam who started the season playing second base Werhas enjoyed a career game shortly after losing his starting job on May 28 going three for four with a walk and run scored in a seventeen inning marathon with the Cincinnati Reds that ended in a 2 2 tie 5 but was soon returned to Spokane regardless He batted 309 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs for Spokane He returned to the Dodgers when rosters expanded in September 1965 going hitless with one walk and a run scored in three pinch hit plate appearances The only time Werhas took the field was at first base in the final game of the season 6 He earned a back up job in 1967 but was dealt to the California Angels on May 10 for outfielder Len Gabrielson On June 4 he hit his first major league home run off the Minnesota Twins Jim Merritt 7 His only other major league home run came later that month against the Cleveland Indians Sam McDowell 8 Werhas final major league at bat came with the Angels that season He remained with the organization through 1970 before heading to Japan in 1971 to play for the Taiyo Whales In the first trade between a Japanese and an American team he was dealt to the San Diego Padres Pacific Coast League affiliate the Hawaii Islanders for longtime major leaguer Clete Boyer 9 He retired following the 1973 season Werhas and his wife Kay have two children His daughter is married to former Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees pitcher Dan Naulty References edit Tom Verducci June 4 2012 To Cheat or Not to Cheat Sports Illustrated Pj20150504 Archived from the original on 2016 03 05 Retrieved 2015 08 06 Meet Pastor John The Rock Community Church Hey It s Spring Dodgers in Drills Spokane Daily Chronicle January 14 1964 Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Cincinnati Reds 2 Baseball Reference com May 28 1964 Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Milwaukee Braves 0 Baseball Reference com October 3 1965 Minnesota Twins 8 California Angels 7 Baseball Reference com June 4 1967 California Angels 7 Cleveland Indians 0 Baseball Reference com June 22 1967 Clete Boyer baseballbiography com External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johnny Werhas amp oldid 1162749151, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
