Though he was New Athens’ native son, Waterloo was blessed to have had many strong connections to St. Louis Cardinals legend Dorrel Norman Elvert “Whitey” Herzog.

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame manager and former big league player passed away this week at the age of 92. He was the second oldest living Hall of Famer behind Willie Mays.

Born and raised in New Athens, Herzog – known as “Relly” by the locals in his younger years – starred in both baseball and basketball at New Athens High School before signing with the New York Yankees in 1949.

He received the “Whitey” nickname as a minor leaguer with the McAlester (Okla.) Rockets in 1949 from sportscaster Bill Speith for his light-colored hair. 

Herzog served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War and then went on to play eight years in the majors, batting .257 with 25 home runs and 172 RBIs for the Washington Senators (1956-58), Kansas City Athletics (1958-60), Baltimore Orioles (1961-62) and Detroit Tigers (1963). 

Before becoming manager of the Cardinals in 1980, Herzog managed the Texas Rangers (1973), California Angels (1974 on an interim basis) and Kansas City Royals (1975-79). The Royals won three straight American League West Division titles from 1976-1978 but fell to the New York Yankees in the league championship series all three times. 

His brand of baseball – known as Whiteyball – captivated the St. Louis area and beyond, with speed utilized on both offense and defense to the maximum on such a spacious turf field as Busch Stadium. 

He guided the Cardinals to a World Series win in 1982 and two more pennants in 1985 and 1987 that fell just short of World Series trophies. 

Herzog resigned as manager in July 1990, less than a year after Cardinals owner August Busch Jr. had passed away.

As a guest of longtime friend Bill Schmidt of Waterloo, who passed away in 2013, Herzog told the Waterloo Rotary Club shortly before his Hall of Fame induction that the 10 years managing the Cardinals were his happiest years in baseball – mostly due to his relationship with Busch. 

In a 2010 article, Schmidt told the Republic-Times that one particular note Herzog wrote to his longtime pal went like this:

“Thanks for letting me get all of those hits in high school. You’re the reason I got signed.” 

While Schmidt was a senior at Waterloo High School, he recalled giving up two hits while pitching to Herzog, who was a junior at New Athens. 

Schmidt, who was righthanded, also remembered going head-to-head against Herzog, who was left-handed, in several basketball games. 

Schmidt and Herzog played guard on their respective hoops teams. 

Schmidt later won Waterloo’s first ever state championship in track. 

Herzog, in 1949, helped lead the New Athens basketball team to its first-ever state basketball championship. 

Outside of sports, Schmidt and Herzog developed a long-lasting friendship. Schmidt said he talked to Herzog about two to three days a week. 

Schmidt also recalled going on several double dates with Herzog in high school. 

Herzog and Schmidt went on countless fishing and hunting trips with each other. Schmidt recalled several fishing trips to Beaver Lake in Wartburg. 

Herzog’s signature flat-top buzz cut can also be traced to Waterloo. His favorite barber was none other than Eugene “Hoagy” Hohnbaum of Gene’s Barber Shop on Mill Street, who he visited regularly over the years. 

Hohnbaum passed away  in 2009.

Herzog could also be spotted having lunch at JV’s Downtown Bar & Grill in Waterloo on many occasions.  

Following his days with the Cardinals, Herzog was a huge supporter of youth baseball throughout the region. 

He formed the Whitey Herzog Youth Foundation in 1987, which helped fund improvements to baseball fields in both Missouri and Illinois. Among the fields renovated through his foundation were the Columbia High School and Waterloo High School diamonds as well as SPPS Field in Waterloo, which is used by Gibault Catholic High School, the Waterloo Buds of the Mon-Clair League and multiple youth baseball programs. 

Herzog’s last public appearance was at the Cardinals home opener on April 4, acknowledging a roaring crowd with a wave from a luxury suite at the stadium on a cold day.  

Herzog’s family issued the following statement Tuesday upon his passing:

“Whitey spent his last few days surrounded by his family. We have so appreciated all of the prayers and support from friends who knew he was very ill.  Although it is hard for us to say goodbye, his peaceful passing was a blessing for him.” 

Whitey is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou Herzog, their three children Debra, David and Jim and their spouses; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, 

The Herzog family is planning a private celebration of life service after a period of grieving, and asks that any donations be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.