"Batted .308 in 39 games with the Yanks in '80. He may be a late bloomer whose time has finally come. Werth has put together outstanding minor league statistics year after year. He was originally a catcher but has been converted to first base.
Born in Lincoln, Illinois, Dennis hits with power but is also sound defensively at first."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
"The pride of Mt. Pulaski, Illinois hit the big time last season. Dennis Werth, known as Herbie to most, surprised everyone back home by sticking with the Yankees for most of 1980.
'But why the surprise?' is the question raised by Dennis himself.
Playing first base, catcher and the outfield, Dennis feels his worth to the club is more than threefold. Besides being able to put his 6'1", 200-pound solid frame to good use on defense, Herbie whacks the ball with the authority of a seasoned vet. He hit over .300 last season seeing limited duty but performed most effectively whenever asked to pitch in.
Around the clubhouse, Dennis' comical anecdotes and hilarious near-perfect imitation of White Sox announcer Harry Caray keep the Yankees in stitches. Herbie's teammates are always requesting him for performance after performance of comic relief, but Herbie's favorite contribution to the club would be another .300 season with more playing time in 1981. Then he could have the last laugh at the expense of opposing American League pitchers."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"One of the surprises of the year for the Yankees in 1980, Werth spent most of the season with the big club after making the team in spring training. He hit .308 in 39 games and started fast, hitting .400 as late as June 19. He hit his first major league home run on May 23 at Toronto and drove in three runs on June 17 against Seattle.
Dennis was sent back to Columbus on July 24, but returned on August 27. He hit a big, three-run pinch-hit home run in Cleveland on September 30, giving the Yankees a temporary lead after they trailed by as much as six runs. Dennis played every position for the Yankees but second base, center field and pitcher. His best defensive position is first base.
A homegrown talent who was in the organization for almost six years before he made it to the majors, Werth was drafted as a catcher but was moved to first base early. He was reacquainted to catching in the Winter Instructional League in 1979 under the tutelage of Jeff Torborg and Doug Holmquist.
Dennis broke in at Oneonta in 1974 and hit .336 with 61 RBIs in 64 games. He hit 17 home runs at West Haven in 1976 and was promoted to triple-A the following year. Dennis played three years at that level in three different cities.
He led Tacoma in batting at .333 in 1978. In 1979, he was fourth in the International League in batting (.299) and home runs (17), and third in RBIs (74). He was also second in total bases (210) and walks (88). Dennis came up to the Yankees in September and got his first major league hit on the 18th off Cleveland's Mike Paxton.
Werth played both basketball and baseball in high school and college, and is just 21 credits short of his B.A. in physical education. He enjoys woodworking, building and auto mechanics. He grew up a Cardinal fan with Ken Boyer his favorite. Dennis does an excellent imitation of broadcaster Harry Caray.
He played in the Puerto Rican Winter League after the 1980 season under Stan Williams at Ponce."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
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