From the Collection: 2011 Upper Deck SP Legendary Black Cut Signatures Vic Wertz
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Do you know who was a really good player that people don’t talk about anymore? Cleveland outfielder Vic Wertz.
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The only reason most people remember Vic Wertz is that he was the guy who hit the ball that Willie Mays caught over his shoulder in game one of the 1954 World Series, the photo of which is one of the more iconic images in sports history. It’s never a great thing to be tied, famously, to a historic moment when you are on the losing end of it.
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But if we put “Gut-wrenching web gems from iconic Hall of Fame players during pivotal World Series moments” to the side, Wertz is worth remembering. During his peak, from 1949-1960, Wertz hit .281/.369/.482, averaging 20 HR a season. This is good for a 126 OPS+. He was a four-time All-Star and four times landed in the Top 10 for MVP voting. He was a very solid part of those mid to late-1950s Cleveland teams that were always very good, but never quite good enough to win it all.