Completed Event: Baseball versus Virginia on May 20, 2026 , Loss , 4, to, 6
/
Final
Baseball
4
vs Virginia
6
Former Duke Great Bill Werber Passes Away
1/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball, Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? Former Duke baseball and basketball great Bill Werber died Thursday afternoon at the age of 100.
A member of Duke's basketball and baseball teams from 1928-30, Werber was Duke's first All-America basketball player and the oldest living ex-Major League Baseball player.
Werber's son, Bill Jr., said his father died Thursday morning of “old age” after moving into an assisted care facility three weeks ago.
After helping the Duke baseball team to a three-year record of 43-17-1 during his tenure, Werber went on to play 11 seasons in Major League Baseball with five different organizations. A former teammate of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove, Werber made his big league debut on June 25, 1930 with the New York Yankees. He won a World Series ring in 1940 with the Cincinnati Reds before retiring with the New York Giants in 1942.
A career .271 hitter, Werber was a third baseman for most of his professional career and led the league in stolen bases three times. He put together a career-best .321 batting average and stole 40 bases with the Boston Red Sox in 1934, the same year he finished 12th in the AL MVP voting.
Also a two-time All-Southern Conference selection in basketball, Werber led Duke to a three-year record of 39-15 on the hardwood.
“Bill was a great man," Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "For so many years, he represented this university in a manner we should all follow. His presence will be missed, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family.”
* Excerpts taken from the Associated Press.
-d-u-k-e-
Saturday, May 16
Thursday, May 14
Saturday, May 09
Friday, April 24
