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 WWee Willie was a left handed pitcher KKnown as the pitcher that sang or whistled while on the mound KKnown for his curve ball PPlayed with the St. Louis Cardinals PPlayed with the Boston Braves PPlayed with the St. Louis Cardinals 1932

Wee Willie’s Achievements 1 National League Winning Percentage Leader 11920, 1927 & 1928 – 3-Time National League Saves Leader 11922, 1923 & – 15 Win Season 11928 – 20 Wins Season 11922, 1923 & – 200 Innings Pitched Seasons 1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       My grandfather – Jack Sherdel