Wertz Warriors Michigan Travel Television GLSP TV Network

Vic Wertz was a great Detroit Tiger and also hit the ball that made Willie Mays famous. Then playing for the Indians, Wertz hit one into dead center field and Willie went and got it with one of the most celebrated catches ever. Vic Wertz came back to Detroit after his Indian days and owned and operated a successful beer distributorship. He also formed the Wertz Warriors, a group of snowmobilers that spend much of their time raising money for the Michigan Special Olympics. Wertz died shortly after giving life to the group. Bill Freehan and then Mark Fridrych picked up the torch and have carried it since.

Our cameras were on hand at the Otsego Club, after they had stayed the night, had breakfast and then prepared to complete their tour in Petoskey. This year, they stopped in West Branch, Grayling, Lewiston and Gaylord. Dave White, owner of Dave White Video Services, joined our coverage by giving us some of the background of the Wertz Warriors. We also dropped in some footage we had shot at previous Winter Michigan Special Olympics games. Enjoy.

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• Wertz
• Warriors
• snowmobile
• otsego
• club
• television
• network
• glsp
• gaylord
• area
• convention
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• osprey
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• Michigan
• Travel
• Television
• 2008

[PeerlessPaavo]

Photo of Vic Wertz has to be from his final year in the majors, 1963, when he was with the Minnesota Twins. If you're a hardcore baseball fan of a certain age, you can tell by looking that Vic was photographed at old Comiskey Park in Chicago.

With the Cleveland Indians in '54, Wertz hit a ball Willie Mays caught over his shoulder in a legendary World Series moment.

Interestingly, Wertz played several years after contracting a milder form of polio. Switched from OF to 1B. (This was pre-DH.)

[thyubernoob]

Im first! Daves a great guy as are the rest of you fellas! keep up the great work......