Johnny Werhas

John Charles Werhas
(Peaches)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School University of Southern California
• High School Rolling Hills Preparatory School
• Debut April 14, 1964
• Final Game September 30, 1967
• Born February 7, 1938 in Highland Park, MI USA

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Biographical Information

Third baseman Johnny Werhas had cups of coffee in the majors during three seasons, playing for both Los Angeles area teams but failing to hit as high as .200 in any year.

Werhas played college ball at USC from 1957 to 1959, at the same time as Don Buford, Ron Fairly, and Len Gabrielson. He was the All-American third baseman in 1959. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 1960 season and quickly rose through their organization, reaching the AAA Spokane Indians by 1962. In Spring Training 1964, he roomed with Sandy Koufax, and he was the Dodgers' Opening Day starter at third that year. However, after hitting just .193 in 29 games, he was sent back to Spokane in early June. He made four apperances for the Dodgers in 1965, but he spent most of the following two years in the minors.

After making the Dodgers' Opening Day roster again in 1967, he was traded to the California Angels in May for Len Gabrielson, with whom he had played at USC. He hit just .160 in 49 games for the Angels but clubbed a pair of home runs, his only ones in the majors, in June. He returned to the minors in 1968, spending a year in the Philadelphia Phillies organization before returning to the Angels chain with the AAA Hawaii Islanders for two summers.

In 1971, Werhas was involved in what was at the time a very unusual trade. Playing for the Taiyo Whales in Japan, he was dealt to the Hawaii Islanders (then in the San Diego Padres system) for Clete Boyer, said at the time to be the first trade between a Japanese and an American team.

After baseball, Werhas became a pastor. His daughter married Dan Naulty. Werhas and Naulty helped found a church after Naulty's baseball career was over.