Willard Hershberger's Life and Death
The Only Major-Leaguer to Commit Suicide during the Regular Season
Feb 25, 2009
Background for Tragedy
Born on May 28, 1911, Hershberger grew up in Fullerton, California, where he was a terrific student/athlete at the high school. Author William Nack describes the adolescent as "popular, pleasant [and] affable . . . At 17, he had everything before him."
But just after Willard's senior year began, his father Claude fell into depression over financial problems. On Nov. 21, 1928, Claude took a shotgun into the family bathroom and killed himself.
Willard, the first to find his father's body, was never the same.
Reaching the Big Leagues
Willard eventually rode his talent into baseball's minor leagues as a catcher, batting over .300 during seven seasons. In 1938, the Cincinnati Reds called him to the big club to back up Ernie Lombardi, their beloved, hard-hitting starting catcher.
Self-doubt and Insomnia
Hershberger's steady, hardnosed defense and high-average hitting quickly earned him fans and his teammates' respect. But he was ferociously self-critical. Whenever he took part in a play that failed for the Reds, he grabbed the blame, rightly or wrongly.
Shortstop Lew Riggs, Hershberger's roommate, recalled the catcher's insomnia: "Whenever I woke up at any hour of the night, I would find him . . . in a chair by the window, smoking . . . He practically would get no sleep at all."
Ominous Signs
During the 1940 season, Hershberger's statements and behavior concerned his teammates and Reds manager Bill McKechnie. He called himself a "jinx." And when Lombardi went on the disabled list, Hershberger believed he alone was responsible for the Reds' success or failure.
On July 30, he went 3 for 4 during a 6-3 Reds victory against the New York Giants. The next day, however, the Giants rallied from a 4-1 deficit with two outs in the ninth inning to win 5-4.
"If Ernie had been catching, we wouldn't have lost," Hershberger insisted. "It's all my fault."
Confession
On Aug. 2, a worried McKechnie pulled Hershberger into his office, where the catcher wept for an hour. "My father killed himself and I'm gonna do it too," he said, insisting he was hurting the Reds. He described other "personal problems" as his manager tried to reassure him.
After dinner and a long conversation that evening, the manager believed his catcher had recovered. Indeed, Hershberger told McKechnie: "I'm all right now, Bill."
The Final Day
Early the following afternoon, Hershberger sat in the Copley Plaza Hotel's lobby, telling his teammates he'd join them later at the ballpark. Then he returned to his room.
At about 1:15 p.m., Reds publicist Gabe Paul called Hershberger. Paul related that McKechnie was worried about the catcher, who needn't play or even don his uniform.
"Bill's concerned, and he just wants you out here," Paul said.
"All right, I'll be right out," Hershberger answered.
He stayed put.
Curtain
Approximately half an hour later, Willard Hershberger entered the bathroom, spread towels over the floor, took a razor and slashed his jugular vein.
Upon learning the terrible news, Lombardi, Riggs and several other Reds sobbed.
McKechnie urged his players to honor "Hershie" by winning the pennant and World Series, so the catcher's mother would get some championship money. The Reds did just that, beating the Detroit Tigers in seven games. Maude Hershberger received $5,803, a substantial sum in 1940.
But Maude still agonized over her husband and son's suicides. She died seven years later.
Never Revealing a Secret
For the remaining 25 years of his life, McKechnie refused to reveal Hershberger's "personal problems."
"It had nothing to do with anybody on the team," McKechnie told reporters. "He told it to me in confidence, and I will not utter it to anyone."
Sources
William Nack, "The Razor's Edge," Sports Illustrated, May 6, 1991.
