Shirley Povich Remembers Bill Werber the Ball-Player

The following letter was sent to us by Bill Werber, Jr. We thought we would share with you a treasured memory of one of the most prominent sports columnist of all time Shirley Povich as he shared his memory of Bill Werber, Sr. in an unedited version as it was written. Mr. Povich who passed away at age 92 three months after this letter was written was the recepient of the prestigious JG Taylor Spink award, Cooperstown NY, Hall of Fame 1975.

Dear Bill,

March 8, 1998

I hope you will excuse this tardy reply to your letter of last month. I had been aware of your father’s interest in Joe Jackson as we had discussed it in previous letters and I am certain he is pleased that he has such prominent allies now as Ted Williams and Bob Feller whose backing should be important.

I enjoyed the copy you sent of Bill’s letter to Williams three years ago in which he outlined a good case for “Shoeless Joe.

Your father has a special memory for me. He was one of the greatest natural athletes I covered in all my career particularly baseball and football. It certainly was long ago when I covered Bill’s heroics at GT Tech High and later Duke.

Let me tell you a story of Bill as a big leaguerer and he was a great one. The scene is Shibe Park 1937 or 1938 and Bill is playing third for the A’s. Washington has runners on second and third. The man on third is Dave Harris whom Bill would remember as not being an intellectual.

Anyway the play comes up and Harris wisely holds third base. It’s a called third strike but the guy on second stupidly tries to reach third base. Now there are two men on the third base bag and Bill tags out the guy from second knowing that Harris is entitled to the bag. Then Bill for the fun of it tags Harris also as with Harris still on the bag. Harris is furious knowing he is entitled to the bag and raises hell with the umpire and in his excitement he steps off the bag whereas Bill puts a tag on him too. Result double play.

I’m sure Bill will confirm this story which is one of my treasured memories. Please relay my best to both of your parents.

Warmly,

Shirley Povich

Editors Note: Abbot & Costello have been wrong!!!! It was Harris on third not “I don’t know.”