Wally Hebert
Encyclopedia
Wallace Andrew "Wally" Hebert (August 21, 1907 in Lake Charles, Louisiana
- December 8, 1999 in Westlake, Louisiana
, nicknamed Preacher) was a sidearming left-handed Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
who played from 1931 to 1933 for the St. Louis Browns
and in 1943 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
. His professional career began in 1930.
Hebert played for the Springfield Midgets
in 1930, going 15-16 in 36 games. He rose to the big leagues quickly, making his debut on May 1, 1931 with the Browns. That season, Hebert went 6-7 with a 5.07 ERA in 23 games (13 starts). In 103 innings, he walked 43 batters and struck out only 26.
In 1932, he went only 1-12 with a 6.48 ERA in 35 games (15 starts). In 108⅓ innings, he had 29 strikeouts and 45 base on balls. After going only 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA in 33 games (10 starts) in 1933, he ended up being traded with Smead Jolley
and Jim Levey
to the Hollywood Stars
of the Pacific Coast League
for Alan Strange
. He would end up spending about the next decade in the minor leagues.
From 1934 to 1935, he pitched for the Hollywood Stars
, going 11-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games in 1934 and 10-17 with a 4.93 ERA in 39 games in 1935.
Hebert played for the San Diego Padres
from 1936 to 1942. In his first year with the Padres, he made 35 appearances, and he went 18-12 with a 3.03 ERA. He posted a 17-14 record with a 3.02 ERA in 39 games in 1937, and in 1938 he went 12-16 with a 3.11 ERA in 37 games. For the first time in his professional career, he won 20 games in 1939, as he went 20-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 39 games. In 1940, he went 15-18 with a 3.92 ERA and in 1941, he went 22-10 with a 3.00 ERA.
After going 22-15 with a 2.37 in 40 games in 1942, Hebert was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1942 Rule V Draft. With the Pirates in 1943, Hebert went 10-11 with a 2.98 ERA in 34 games (23 starts). In 184 innings, he had 12 complete games and he walked 45 batters, striking out only 41. He played his final big league game on September 29, 1943. Pittsburgh offered him a deal for the 1944 season, however he opted to retire.
Overall, Hebert went 21-36 with a 4.63 in 125 big league appearances (61 starts). In 483⅔ innings, he had 168 walks and only 115 strikeouts. He was also a solid hitter, posting a .270 career batting average in 159 at-bats.
In the minor leagues, he posted a 162-139 record, as well as a .239 batting average.
and Barbara Jenkins tells the second part of the story of the authors' walking trip across the United States. In the 10th chapter, the hikers are traveling through Louisiana and stay for a few days with Wally Hebert and his wife Bobbie. Peter and Barbara Jenkins were friends with Wally Hebert, Jr. in New Orleans, and the younger Hebert suggested at the time that if they were ever passing through the town of Westlake, that they could find a place to stay with Preacher and Bobbie. The 10th chapter is entitled "Babe Ruth
, Joe DiMaggio
, and Preacher Hebert." In it, Hebert relates his experiences in major and minor league baseball, tells about his life growing up in the Louisiana swamps and bayous, discusses his football experiences, and gives a glimpse into his post baseball life as a farmer and as a fisher of the Louisiana waterways.
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
- December 8, 1999 in Westlake, Louisiana
Westlake, Louisiana
Westlake is a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States and is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is considered a suburb of Lake Charles. The population was 4,668 at the 2000 census...
, nicknamed Preacher) was a sidearming left-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...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who played from 1931 to 1933 for the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and in 1943 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. His professional career began in 1930.
Hebert played for the Springfield Midgets
Springfield Midgets
The Springfield Midgets were a minor league baseball team that played from 1903 to 1904 in the Missouri Valley League and from 1906 to 1909 and 1921 to 1930 in the Western Association. Based in Springfield, Missouri, they were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns in 1930.-Year-by-year record:...
in 1930, going 15-16 in 36 games. He rose to the big leagues quickly, making his debut on May 1, 1931 with the Browns. That season, Hebert went 6-7 with a 5.07 ERA in 23 games (13 starts). In 103 innings, he walked 43 batters and struck out only 26.
In 1932, he went only 1-12 with a 6.48 ERA in 35 games (15 starts). In 108⅓ innings, he had 29 strikeouts and 45 base on balls. After going only 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA in 33 games (10 starts) in 1933, he ended up being traded with Smead Jolley
Smead Jolley
Smead Powell Jolley was an outfielder in Major League baseball for four seasons during the 1930s....
and Jim Levey
Jim Levey
James Julius "Jim" Levey was a Jewish Major League Baseball shortstop who played from 1930 to 1933 for the St. Louis Browns. His professional career began in 1927...
to the Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
for Alan Strange
Alan Strange
Alan Cochrane "Inky" Strange is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He was born on November 7, 1906 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a baseball player, he threw and batted right-handed, and was 5'9" in height and 162 pounds in weight...
. He would end up spending about the next decade in the minor leagues.
From 1934 to 1935, he pitched for the Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
, going 11-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games in 1934 and 10-17 with a 4.93 ERA in 39 games in 1935.
Hebert played for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
from 1936 to 1942. In his first year with the Padres, he made 35 appearances, and he went 18-12 with a 3.03 ERA. He posted a 17-14 record with a 3.02 ERA in 39 games in 1937, and in 1938 he went 12-16 with a 3.11 ERA in 37 games. For the first time in his professional career, he won 20 games in 1939, as he went 20-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 39 games. In 1940, he went 15-18 with a 3.92 ERA and in 1941, he went 22-10 with a 3.00 ERA.
After going 22-15 with a 2.37 in 40 games in 1942, Hebert was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1942 Rule V Draft. With the Pirates in 1943, Hebert went 10-11 with a 2.98 ERA in 34 games (23 starts). In 184 innings, he had 12 complete games and he walked 45 batters, striking out only 41. He played his final big league game on September 29, 1943. Pittsburgh offered him a deal for the 1944 season, however he opted to retire.
Overall, Hebert went 21-36 with a 4.63 in 125 big league appearances (61 starts). In 483⅔ innings, he had 168 walks and only 115 strikeouts. He was also a solid hitter, posting a .270 career batting average in 159 at-bats.
In the minor leagues, he posted a 162-139 record, as well as a .239 batting average.
Chapter 10 of The Walk West, A Walk Across America 2
The book The Walk West, A Walk Across America 2 by Peter JenkinsPeter Jenkins
Peter Jenkins may refer to:*Peter Jenkins , British diplomat*Peter Jenkins , British journalist*Peter Jenkins , Canadian politician...
and Barbara Jenkins tells the second part of the story of the authors' walking trip across the United States. In the 10th chapter, the hikers are traveling through Louisiana and stay for a few days with Wally Hebert and his wife Bobbie. Peter and Barbara Jenkins were friends with Wally Hebert, Jr. in New Orleans, and the younger Hebert suggested at the time that if they were ever passing through the town of Westlake, that they could find a place to stay with Preacher and Bobbie. The 10th chapter is entitled "Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
, and Preacher Hebert." In it, Hebert relates his experiences in major and minor league baseball, tells about his life growing up in the Louisiana swamps and bayous, discusses his football experiences, and gives a glimpse into his post baseball life as a farmer and as a fisher of the Louisiana waterways.