1049:
36:
1037:
1025:
419:
459:
as the backup to
Lombardi, as had been the case the previous two seasons. He had been hitting well in relief of Lombardi, and had a batting average of .429 at the end of May and .345 at the end of June. In July, Lombardi suffered an injured finger, and Hershberger's playing time increased that month
507:
after
Hershberger missed batting practice. He said that he was not going to play that afternoon because he was not feeling well; McKechnie, worried, wanted him there in street clothes, and Hershberger agreed. After he missed the first game of another doubleheader against the Bees, McKechnie had Dan
394:
at catcher. The team ended up with a 109–43 record and the
International League title; the Bears have been called the third greatest minor league team in history by Minor League Baseball. Hershberger hit 15 doubles and had a .325 average in 96 games, and hit .364 in the Junior Series against the
520:. McKechnie never publicly revealed what Willard Hershberger said to him during their meeting the day before: "It had nothing to do with anybody on the team", he told reporters. "He told it to me in confidence, and I will not utter it to anyone". The Cincinnati Reds would go on to defeat the
515:
After giving his team the news, McKechnie had the Reds dedicate themselves to winning the World Series "for
Hershie". His number 5 was retired for the season by the team as a tribute. It would later be permanently retired in honor of the Reds' Hall of Fame catcher,
508:
Cohen, a friend of
Hershberger's, head to the hotel to check in on him. He found the door locked, and asked an employee to open the door. Inside, Cohen found Hershberger's body by the bathtub with his throat slit. After the second game, McKechnie had coach
245:. For three seasons, Hershberger played in relief of Lombardi, stepping in if he needed a day off or was injured. After a slump in late July and early August, Hershberger committed suicide on August 3, 1940, in his hotel room; the Reds went on to win the
496:, and after the game alluded to his father's suicide to McKechnie in private, saying "My father killed himself, and I'm gonna do it too." However, after about an hour, Hershberger had calmed down considerably, and McKechnie believed he would be fine.
304:
in the family home's bathroom; Willard, then 18, discovered the body. Hershberger graduated high school in 1929; the high school yearbook called
Hershberger "the boy with the golden toe" due to his status as the football team's
451:
against the
Yankees. In the series, he had one hit in two at-bats as the Reds lost in four games. His one hit in the World Series brought in the tying run in Game 4, but the Yankees fought back to win the game and the series.
325:
came to
Fullerton to watch Vaughan and Hershberger play, respectively. Essick took a detour and Griggs ended up signing Vaughan instead, while Essick signed Hershberger to a contract to play in the Yankees organization.
438:
for the starting catcher job in 1938. He made the roster and served as the backup to
Lombardi that season, and played in 49 games and had a .276 batting average. He earned the nickname of "Little Slug" due to his
491:
that "If Ernie had been catching, we wouldn't have lost those ball games." He felt he called the wrong pitch to
Danning, resulting in the home run. In the game against the Bees, Hershberger failed to field a
585:
382:
of the PCL. At one point in the season, he was batting .313, and was noted as a player who should have a shot at the major leagues. By the end of the season, his average went down to .263 over 89 games.
443:, and as a contrast to Lombardi's nickname of "Big Slug". In 1939, Hershberger gained extra playing time due to a Lombardi injury in June; during that stretch, Hershberger had eight hits and five
460:
as a result. Lombardi then sprained his ankle on July 26, putting Hershberger in the starting role indefinitely; at the time his batting average was .354. However, in a game against the
386:
The 1937 season started off poorly for Hershberger. While he remained with the Newark Bears, the Yankees released him from his contract, and partly due to the success of catcher
532:. Reds players decided to share a portion of their championship money, totaling $ 5,803, with Hershberger's mother, Maude. Hershberger was buried at Visalia Public Cemetery in
1101:
358:(NYPL). For the season, he had a .306 batting average, was named to the NYPL All-Star Team, and helped the Triplets win the NYPL title. In 1934, he was promoted to the
1091:
1126:
403:
noted that he would spend the offseason working to get the players on major league rosters. On December 3, 1937, Hershberger was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for
342:, playing for them in 1930 and 1931; in 1931 he had a batting average of .356. He spent the 1932 season with three minor league teams, and mostly played for the
545:
1131:
1106:
999:
355:
512:
bring all the players together in the locker room, stating, "I want to tell you something. Willard Hershberger has just destroyed himself."
1141:
1146:
1111:
1086:
959:
889:
856:
731:
613:
835:
290:
468:
on July 31, the Reds took a 4–1 lead into the ninth and lost 5–4, with the comeback capped by a game-ending home run by
1096:
912:
390:, the Yankees no longer had an interest in Hershberger. He spent the full season with the Bears, splitting time with
1121:
1081:
1116:
504:
476:, by scores of 10–3 and 4–3. Hershberger played in the second game and went hitless in six trips to the plate.
371:
269:
fields. He lived in Fullerton with his father, his mother Maude, and his sister Lois. Hershberger attended
456:
270:
230:
1015:
990:
687:
647:
211:
135:
237:
and was part of their minor league system for eight years. He was traded after the 1937 season to the
840:
378:
in 1935, and had a batting average of .310. The following year, he split time with the Bears and the
347:
297:
407:
339:
736:
1076:
982:
809:
692:
472:. After an off-day for the team, the Reds lost both games of a doubleheader on August 2 to the
258:
67:
714:
Lally, E. J. (October 12, 1933). "Capable Piloting By Bill Meyer Brings Title To Binghamton".
262:
207:
84:
1136:
1071:
461:
375:
363:
8:
986:
894:
533:
351:
767:
309:
and "the greatest little catcher to ever put on the Fullerton uniform." In 1930, scouts
590:
447:
in five games. For the season, he hit .345 in 63 games, and played in two games of the
396:
379:
322:
995:
1053:
716:
529:
448:
367:
278:
246:
215:
617:
1029:
550:
350:
where he hit .339 in 94 games. The following year, Hershberger was promoted to the
314:
234:
184:
180:
300:
over financial problems, and on November 21, 1928, he fatally shot himself with a
1041:
521:
493:
431:
359:
238:
203:
176:
293:
championship, and in 2003, he was named to the school's All-Time baseball team.
1004:
525:
444:
435:
427:
335:
242:
219:
1065:
964:
485:
469:
400:
286:
155:
1008:
517:
488:
465:
440:
418:
343:
282:
35:
944:
Swope, Tom (August 8, 1940). "Hershberger Suicide No Unpremeditated Act".
484:
Hershberger blamed himself for the losses to the Giants and Bees, telling
473:
391:
387:
310:
306:
509:
318:
241:, where he found a place on the major league roster as a backup behind
500:
404:
210:(MLB) from 1938 to 1940. In 160 career games, Hershberger recorded a
274:
145:
874:
Swope, Tom (June 22, 1939). "Reds Pass Test on Reserve Strength".
857:"Big Slug Can't Hide His Thoughts, But Neither Can The Other Boys"
732:"Marty, Spindel Rate as Coast's Prize Rookies, Majors Eye Others"
301:
223:
199:
47:
789:"Newark Bears Stage Remarkable Come-Back to Win Junior Series".
499:
The following afternoon, Reds publicist and traveling secretary
410:
and $ 40,000, ending his tenure in the Yankees organization.
688:"Willard Hershberger Minor League Statistics & History"
265:, when his father, Claude, got a job working in the city's
266:
198:(May 28, 1910 – August 3, 1940) was an American baseball
890:"Errors In Final Game Lose Chances For Cincinnati Reds"
233:
where he was a baseball standout. He was signed by the
222:. He is the only major league player to date to commit
546:
List of baseball players who died during their careers
125:
August 2, 1940, for the Cincinnati Reds
115:
April 19, 1938, for the Cincinnati Reds
1013:
614:"FUHS Baseball Greats Come Home For Reunion and Game"
229:
Born and raised in California, Hershberger attended
1102:Major League Baseball players with retired numbers
434:that there was the possibility of him beating out
1092:Suicides by sharp instrument in the United States
334:Hershberger made his professional debut with the
1063:
1127:Baseball players from Tulare County, California
661:. Society for American Baseball Research: 72–76
648:"Willard Hershberger and the Legacy of Suicide"
981:Career statistics and player information from
430:noted that Hershberger was playing so well in
370:in 114 games. Hershberger was promoted to the
366:(PCL), and had a .307 batting average and 18
273:, where he distinguished himself on both the
810:"Willard Hershberger Statistics and History"
1132:Baseball players from Fullerton, California
1107:Newark Bears (International League) players
939:
937:
935:
933:
913:"Willard Hershberger 1940 Batting Gamelogs"
960:"Full Share Voted to Hershberger's Mother"
751:"New York Waiting For 'Sit Out' Strike".
930:
836:"Pro Grid and Mat Ace Reds Mound "Find""
616:. Pleiades Online Sports. Archived from
417:
765:
1064:
907:
905:
833:
645:
641:
639:
637:
635:
329:
943:
873:
854:
804:
802:
800:
713:
682:
680:
678:
676:
291:California Interscholastic Federation
583:
579:
577:
575:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
16:American baseball player (1910–1940)
902:
632:
13:
1142:Fullerton Union High School alumni
855:Carey, Frank E. (August 4, 1940).
797:
673:
413:
14:
1158:
975:
562:
503:called Hershberger's room at the
289:. The 1926 baseball team won the
1147:Sportspeople who died by suicide
1047:
1035:
1023:
834:Talbot, Gayle (March 17, 1938).
257:Willard Hershberger was born in
34:
1112:Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
1000:SABR Baseball Biography Project
952:
882:
867:
848:
827:
766:Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall.
1087:Major League Baseball catchers
968:. October 5, 1940. p. 14.
793:. October 14, 1937. p. 2.
782:
759:
755:. January 21, 1937. p. 1.
744:
724:
707:
606:
296:Claude, Willard's father, was
1:
898:. October 9, 1939. p. 6.
740:. August 27, 1936. p. 6.
584:Nack, William (May 6, 1991).
556:
399:. As a result, Yankees owner
252:
356:New York–Pennsylvania League
7:
991:Baseball Reference (Minors)
539:
457:1940 Cincinnati Reds season
271:Fullerton Union High School
231:Fullerton Union High School
10:
1163:
528:in seven games to win the
214:of .316 and accumulated 5
1097:Suicides in Massachusetts
841:The Meriden Daily Journal
646:Wigley, Brian J. (2000).
281:teams, playing alongside
196:Willard McKee Hershberger
173:
168:
164:
154:
144:
134:
129:
124:
119:
114:
109:
91:
74:
54:
45:
33:
26:
479:
1122:Hollywood Stars players
1082:Cincinnati Reds players
770:. Minor League Baseball
737:Ellensburg Daily Record
40:Hershberger, circa 1939
1117:El Paso Texans players
917:Baseball-Reference.com
814:Baseball-Reference.com
693:Baseball-Reference.com
455:Hershberger spent the
423:
261:. His family moved to
259:Lemon Cove, California
68:Lemon Cove, California
861:The Milwaukee Journal
421:
285:and future President
263:Fullerton, California
208:Major League Baseball
85:Boston, Massachusetts
376:International League
364:Pacific Coast League
340:Arizona–Texas League
1005:Willard Hershberger
996:Willard Hershberger
895:The Palm Beach Post
620:on January 30, 2011
534:Visalia, California
422:Hershberger in 1940
352:Binghamton Triplets
330:Minor league career
226:during the season.
120:Last MLB appearance
28:Willard Hershberger
983:Baseball Reference
591:Sports Illustrated
586:"The Razor's Edge"
505:Copley Plaza Hotel
424:
397:Columbus Red Birds
323:Pittsburgh Pirates
946:The Sporting News
876:The Sporting News
791:The Sporting News
753:The Sporting News
717:The Sporting News
530:1940 World Series
449:1939 World Series
247:1940 World Series
193:
192:
1154:
1052:
1051:
1050:
1040:
1039:
1038:
1028:
1027:
1026:
1019:
970:
969:
956:
950:
949:
941:
928:
927:
925:
923:
909:
900:
899:
886:
880:
879:
871:
865:
864:
852:
846:
845:
831:
825:
824:
822:
820:
806:
795:
794:
786:
780:
779:
777:
775:
763:
757:
756:
748:
742:
741:
728:
722:
721:
711:
705:
704:
702:
700:
684:
671:
670:
668:
666:
655:National Pastime
652:
643:
630:
629:
627:
625:
610:
604:
603:
601:
599:
594:. pp. 52–64
581:
551:List of suicides
315:New York Yankees
235:New York Yankees
81:
64:
62:
38:
29:
24:
23:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1151:
1062:
1061:
1058:
1048:
1046:
1036:
1034:
1024:
1022:
1014:
978:
973:
958:
957:
953:
942:
931:
921:
919:
911:
910:
903:
888:
887:
883:
872:
868:
853:
849:
832:
828:
818:
816:
808:
807:
798:
788:
787:
783:
773:
771:
768:"Top 100 Teams"
764:
760:
750:
749:
745:
730:
729:
725:
712:
708:
698:
696:
686:
685:
674:
664:
662:
650:
644:
633:
623:
621:
612:
611:
607:
597:
595:
582:
563:
559:
542:
522:American League
482:
462:New York Giants
432:spring training
416:
414:Cincinnati Reds
360:Hollywood Stars
332:
255:
239:Cincinnati Reds
212:batting average
204:Cincinnati Reds
177:Cincinnati Reds
136:Batting average
105:
104:
98:
83:
79:
66:
60:
58:
41:
27:
22:
21:Baseball player
17:
12:
11:
5:
1160:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1057:
1056:
1044:
1032:
1012:
1011:
1002:
993:
977:
976:External links
974:
972:
971:
951:
929:
901:
881:
866:
847:
826:
796:
781:
758:
743:
723:
706:
672:
631:
605:
560:
558:
555:
554:
553:
548:
541:
538:
526:Detroit Tigers
481:
478:
445:runs batted in
436:Ernie Lombardi
428:Bill McKechnie
415:
412:
348:Central League
336:El Paso Texans
331:
328:
254:
251:
243:Ernie Lombardi
191:
190:
189:
188:
171:
170:
166:
165:
162:
161:
158:
156:Runs batted in
152:
151:
148:
142:
141:
138:
132:
131:
130:MLB statistics
127:
126:
122:
121:
117:
116:
112:
111:
107:
106:
99:
93:
92:
89:
88:
82:(aged 30)
78:August 3, 1940
72:
71:
52:
51:
43:
42:
39:
31:
30:
20:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1159:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1077:1940 suicides
1075:
1073:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1060:
1055:
1045:
1043:
1033:
1031:
1021:
1020:
1017:
1010:
1006:
1003:
1001:
997:
994:
992:
988:
984:
980:
979:
967:
966:
965:Reading Eagle
961:
955:
947:
940:
938:
936:
934:
918:
914:
908:
906:
897:
896:
891:
885:
877:
870:
863:. p. 22.
862:
858:
851:
843:
842:
837:
830:
815:
811:
805:
803:
801:
792:
785:
769:
762:
754:
747:
739:
738:
733:
727:
719:
718:
710:
695:
694:
689:
683:
681:
679:
677:
660:
656:
649:
642:
640:
638:
636:
619:
615:
609:
593:
592:
587:
580:
578:
576:
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
561:
552:
549:
547:
544:
543:
537:
535:
531:
527:
523:
519:
513:
511:
506:
502:
497:
495:
490:
487:
486:third baseman
477:
475:
471:
470:Harry Danning
467:
463:
458:
453:
450:
446:
442:
441:pinch hitting
437:
433:
429:
426:Reds manager
420:
411:
409:
406:
402:
401:Jacob Ruppert
398:
393:
389:
384:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
327:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
303:
299:
294:
292:
288:
287:Richard Nixon
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
227:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
186:
182:
178:
175:
174:
172:
167:
163:
159:
157:
153:
149:
147:
143:
139:
137:
133:
128:
123:
118:
113:
108:
102:
96:
90:
86:
77:
73:
69:
57:
53:
50:
49:
44:
37:
32:
25:
19:
1059:
1009:Find a Grave
963:
954:
948:. p. 5.
945:
920:. Retrieved
916:
893:
884:
878:. p. 5.
875:
869:
860:
850:
844:. p. 5.
839:
829:
817:. Retrieved
813:
790:
784:
772:. Retrieved
761:
752:
746:
735:
726:
720:. p. 6.
715:
709:
697:. Retrieved
691:
665:November 24,
663:. Retrieved
658:
654:
624:November 24,
622:. Retrieved
618:the original
608:
596:. Retrieved
589:
518:Johnny Bench
514:
498:
489:Billy Werber
483:
466:Polo Grounds
454:
425:
408:Eddie Miller
385:
380:Oakland Oaks
372:Newark Bears
344:Erie Sailors
333:
295:
283:Arky Vaughan
256:
228:
195:
194:
100:
94:
80:(1940-08-03)
75:
65:May 28, 1910
55:
46:
18:
1137:1940 deaths
1072:1910 births
922:January 26,
819:January 24,
774:January 26,
699:January 24,
598:January 15,
474:Boston Bees
392:Buddy Rosar
388:Bill Dickey
311:Bill Essick
307:placekicker
1066:Categories
1054:California
989:, or
985:, or
557:References
510:Hank Gowdy
319:Art Griggs
253:Early life
61:1910-05-28
1030:Biography
987:Fangraphs
524:champion
501:Gabe Paul
405:shortstop
298:depressed
146:Home runs
110:MLB debut
1042:Baseball
540:See also
279:football
275:baseball
202:for the
1016:Portals
998:at the
464:at the
374:of the
368:doubles
362:of the
354:of the
346:of the
338:of the
321:of the
313:of the
302:shotgun
224:suicide
218:and 41
216:triples
200:catcher
95:Batted:
48:Catcher
101:Threw:
87:, U.S.
70:, U.S.
651:(PDF)
480:Death
169:Teams
103:Right
97:Right
76:Died:
56:Born:
924:2013
821:2013
776:2013
701:2013
667:2010
626:2010
600:2023
494:bunt
317:and
277:and
220:runs
185:1940
181:1938
140:.316
1007:at
267:oil
206:of
1068::
962:.
932:^
915:.
904:^
892:.
859:.
838:.
812:.
799:^
734:.
690:.
675:^
659:20
657:.
653:.
634:^
588:.
564:^
536:.
249:.
160:70
1018::
926:.
823:.
778:.
703:.
669:.
628:.
602:.
187:)
183:–
179:(
150:0
63:)
59:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
