Henry Levi "Johnny" Werts (April 20, 1898 in Pomaria, South Carolina

Pomaria, South Carolina

Pomaria is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 177 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pomaria is located at ....

 - September 24, 1990 in Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry is a city in Newberry County, South Carolina, 43 miles west -northwest of Columbia. The charter was adopted in 1894. In 1890, 3,020 people lived in Newberry, South Carolina; in 1900, 4,607; in 1910, 5,028; and in 1940, 7,510. The population was 10,580 at the 2000 census. It is the county...

) was a right-handed Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 pitcher who played for the Boston Braves

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

 from 1926 to 1929. His last name was also spelled Wertz.

He made his major league debut on April 14, 1926 at the age of 27, approximately a week shy of his 28th birthday. He went 11-8 in his rookie season, posting a 3.28 ERA in 32 games (23 starts) and finishing second on the team in wins, trailing only Larry Benton

Larry Benton

Lawrence James Benton was an American baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of thirteen seasons with the Boston Braves, New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was the National League wins leader in 1928 with New York...

's 14. He finished second in the league in hit batsmen, behind only Don Songer

Don Songer

Donald C. Songer was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played four seasons in the major leagues, from until , for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Giants.-Sources:...

.

In 1927, he went 4-10 with a 4.55 ERA in 42 games (15 starts), walking 52 batters and striking out only 39. His six wild pitches were third most in the National League that season. In each of the next two seasons, he appeared in only 10 games and four games respectively, going 0-2 with a 10.31 ERA in 1928 and 0-0 with a 10.50 ERA in 1929. He appeared in his final game on May 22.

On June 2, 1928, he was traded with Jimmy Cooney

Jimmy Cooney (1920s shortstop)

James Edward Cooney , nicknamed "Scoops," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for six different teams between and . Listed at 5' 11", 160 lb., Cooney batted and threw right-handed. His father Jimmy Sr...

 and Luke Urban

Luke Urban

Louis John "Luke" Urban was an American multi-sport athlete and coach. He played four seasons of professional American football in the National Football League and two years of Major League Baseball with the Boston Braves...

 to the Buffalo Bisons

Buffalo Bisons

The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...

 for Bonnie Hollingsworth

Bonnie Hollingsworth

John Burnette Hollingsworth was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1922-1928.-External links:...

.

Overall, Werts went 15-21 with a 4.29 ERA in his four-year major league career. In 378 innings, he allowed 460 hits and 111 walks, while striking out 111 batters.

He also spent seven years playing in the minor leagues, going 59-62 in 218 games. In 1924, he posted a 2.79 ERA despite going 16-17.

Following his death, he was interred at St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery in Newberry, South Carolina.