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
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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 19301932
 Played with the St. Louis Cardinals 1932
Wee Willie’s Achievements
 1925 - National League Winning Percentage
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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