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.

Wertz started 1954 as a member of the newly formed Baltimore Orioles, which had moved from St. Louis, where they had played as the Browns.

It went over 400 feet (120 m) to dead center of the Polo Grounds in New York,[3] and a sportswriter said, "It would have been a home run in any other park, including Yellowstone.

"[4] After he retired from playing, Wertz kept a photo of "The Catch" in his office at his beer distribution company and explained he had no negative feelings about being remembered for hitting a deep fly out.

[citation needed] When he retired to Mount Clemens, Michigan, he formed "Wertz Warriors", a group of sportsmen who raised funds for the Special Olympics Winter Games.

[citation needed] He was the founder of an 800-mile snowmobile endurance ride, run annually in Michigan starting in 1982 to benefit the Special Olympics.