Victor Woodrow Wertz was an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a 17-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career from 1947 to 1963. Wertz played for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Minnesota Twins; all teams within the American League. After having contracted polio in August 1955, ending his season and putting his future in jeopardy, Wertz returned in 1956 to hit 32 home runs and receive the Comeback Player of the Year award. He was involved in one of the most famous World Series plays in MLB history when Willie Mays made a spectacular catch of his over 400 ft fly ball to center field in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, known as "The Catch".