Johnny Werhas
From BR Bullpen
John Charles Werhas (Peaches)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
- School University of Southern California
- Debut April 14, 1964
- Final Game September 30, 1967
- Born February 7, 1938 in Highland Park, MI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Johnny Werhas was in the majors in 1964-65 and 1967, playing for both Los Angeles area teams. A third baseman, he didn't hit as high as .200, but then it was the second dead-ball era when averages were low all around.
Werhas was at USC from 1957-59, at the same time as Don Buford, Ron Fairly, and Len Gabrielson.
He was at Greenville in 1961.
He roomed with Sandy Koufax during spring training in 1964.
In 1967 he was traded for Len Gabrielson, with whom he had been at USC.
In 1971 he was involved in what was at the time a very unusual trade. Playing for the Taiyo Whales in Japan, Werhas was traded to the Hawaii Islanders for Clete Boyer, said at the time to be the first trade between a Japanese and an American team. Werhas had previously played for Hawaii in 1969-70.
The Alan Merrill website has a photo of Merrill taken by Werhas. Merrill was an American who became a big pop star in Japan while Werhas was there.
After baseball he became a pastor.
