Wee Willie Sherdel

By: Matthew Sherdel

Why Wee Willie Sherdel

Wee Willie Sherdel, also known as William Henry Sherdel, was my Great Uncle.

Biography Information on Wee Willie

Born August 15, 1896 in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania

Son of a Blacksmith Didn’t like school much and was

expelled for putting a calf in a teachers office

While expelled he enjoyed fishing and started up a baseball team called the Outlaws

Start of a Baseball Career

After school William worked in a Wagon Factory

While working in the Wagon factory he would hire himself out to Semipro Teams as a catcher

When one of those teams were short a pitcher William volunteered to pitch

He had found his passion

The Baseball Career turns pro

William signed is first pro contract in 1915 but played his first two years with the Milwaukee’s Minor League

Milwaukee’s Minor League team was not very good but William was impressive

The St. Louis Cardinals signed him in 1918

The Baseball Career Continues

William’s first year with the Cardinals he posted a 2.71 ERA

1920 William had 8 victories and 8 losses and out of the bullpen more than any other National League reliever

He led the league with 6 saves 1922 he became a key member of the

starting rotation

William gets his “Nickname”

William becomes known as Wee Willie because he was so little. Standing at 5’10” and weighed 160 lbs

He was quoted “I find it difficult to put on weight. I think I’m the lightest pitcher in the league”.

His fast ball “was no fast ball”. Too little to produce a fast ball but no one could hit his curve ball

Wee Willie gets to the World Series

Wee Willie was the starting pitcher in the opening games in the 1926 and 1928 World Series

Wee Willie started 4 games in the 2 World Series

Wee Willie said that game 5 of the 1926 World Series was the “Best game of my career”.

Wee Willie World Series

Wee Willie and the Cardinals won the 1926 World Series

Wee Willie and the Cardinals lost the 1928 World Series

Both World Series games were against the New York Yankees

Wee Willie pitched against Baseball greats such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig

Wee Willie struck out Babe Ruth in the 1926 World Series

Wee Willie Baseball

Wee Willie was a left handed pitcher Known as the pitcher that sang or

whistled while on the mound Known for his curve ball Played with the St. Louis Cardinals

1920-1930 Played with the Boston Braves 1930-

1932 Played with the St. Louis Cardinals 1932

Wee Willie’s Achievements

1925 - National League Winning Percentage Leader

1920, 1927 & 1928 – 3-Time National League Saves Leader

1922, 1923 & 1925-1928 – 15 Win Season 1928 – 20 Wins Season 1922, 1923 & 1925-1928 – 200 Innings Pitched

Seasons 1926 – Won the World Series

Wee Willie’s Baseball Summary

Wee Willie won 21 for the 1928 pennant winners, twice won 17 and led the National League percentage (.714) in 1925 with a 15-6 mark. As a reliever he led the National League in saves three times. He once entered a game with bases loaded and no outs. His first pitch was turned into a triple play.

Wee Willie Stats

15 year win/loss percent is .531 Total number games played was 514 Won 165 games Lost 146 games Games saved 272

Picture of Wee Willie

Wee Willie’s Baseball Trading Card

Baseball Career Ends

Wee Willie left Baseball in 1932 Retired to McSherrystown, Pennsylvania Passed away in November 14, 1968 Voted into the Pennsylvania Baseball

Hall of Fame

Bibliography

www.baseballreference.com www.thebaseballpage.com www.hrpace.com www.basballlibrary.com www.books.google.com/thecardinalsencyclopedia My grandfather – Jack Sherdel