LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Lancaster County native Don Wert, who spent nine seasons in the Major Leagues and helped the Detroit Tigers capture a World Series title in 1968, has died.
Wert died early Sunday morning in his Strasburg home. He was 86.
News of his death was first reported by LNP | LancasterOnline.
Wert played Major League baseball for eight seasons with the Tigers, from 1963 to 1970, and part of a final ninth season with the Washington Senators in 1971. During his pro career, he compiled a lifetime batting average of .242 but had some memorable hits in big moments during the TIgers' run to the World Series title in 1968.
That year, Wert smacked a two-out single in the ninth inning to drive home the winning run in Detroit's AL pennant-clinching 2-1 win over the New York Yankees late in the season.
Later that year, in the World Series, Wert's single off imposing Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson in Game 7 helped turn the tide for the Tigers, who rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to capture their third world championship.
Detroit has won just one World Series since 1984.
Wert was voted to the AL All-Star Team during the 1968 season and finished 10th in the American League Most Valuable Player balloting in 1965.
A former star at Solanco High School, Wert briefly attended Franklin & Marshall College on an athletic scholarship before signing with the Tigers organization in 1958. He spent five seasons in the minors before getting called up to the big club in 1963 and took over as Detroit's starting third baseman in 1964.
After his playing career ended, Wert returned to Lancaster County, where he served as F&M's baseball coach from 1977-81.
Wert is survived by his wife Marla, son Scott, daughters Barbara Hess and Kimberly Myers, and grandchildren Julia and Mason Myers.
