Wally Rehg

Walter Phillip Rehg

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut April 14, 1912
• Final Game May 10, 1919
• Born August 31, 1888 in Summerfield, IL USA
• Died April 5, 1946 in Burbank, CA USA

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Biographical Information

"Hello, Foxy Grandpa, I've read about you!" - Wally Rehg's first words on being introduced to Honus Wagner

Wally Rehg was a smart-aleck who was sometimes called "The Freshest Man in Baseball". After his seven years in the majors, he had a long minor league career.

He mostly played right field in a backup role during his seven years in the majors, although he was the regular right fielder for the 1917 Boston Braves.

He broke in with the 1912 Pirates, but then played three seasons with the Boston Red Sox, including in 1914 when Babe Ruth first came up (Rehg played in Ruth's first game). He became a good friend of Tris Speaker. After some time in the minors, he was back with the other Boston team, and then closed out his career with the 1919 Reds. The Reds won the 1919 World Series, but Rehg's last appearance with them was on May 10.

Rehg started in semi-pro ball in 1909 and then went to Hartford to play minor league baseball mostly at shortstop. In between major league stops, he played at St. Paul and Providence. After his major league days, he played many years in the minors, mostly for Indianapolis. His last season as a player was in 1930, and he briefly also managed in the minors that year.

He suffered a knee injury around 1913 and reinjured it in 1915.

He was in the Navy for part of 1918, discharged in December.

After baseball he worked at Paramount Studios as an electrician, and appeared in a couple movies.

"Why, for myself." - Wally Rehg's response when, as a pinch-hitter, umpire Bill Klem asked who he was batting for

Related Sites

• Wally Rehg at the SABR Bio Project