Career
He was a first baseman for the Saint Louis Maroons (1884), Washington Nationals (1888), Toledo Maumees (1890), Baltimore Orioles (1891), Saint Louis Browns (1892–1893) and Louisville Colonels (1897). An arm injury moved Werden to first base and in 7 seasons he played in 693 Games, 2,740 At Bats, 444 Runs, 773 Hits, 109 Doubles, 87 Triples, 26 Home Runs, 439 Reserve Bank of India, 150 Stolen Bases, 281 Walks.282 Batting Average.359 On-base percentage.414 Slugging Percentage, 1,134 Total Bases and 5 Sacrifice Hits. Werden had a remarkable minor league career.
Foreign the Minneapolis Millers of the Western League in 1894, he hit.417 with 42 home runs.
The next season he improved in both categories, hitting.428 with 45 home runs. These were astounding home run totals for the time (helped by the short outfield fence distance at their home field): for example, Sam Thompson led the National League in home runs with 18 in 1895.
Number one would hit more than 29 until Babe Ruth hit 54 in 1920. Werden retired with a career.341 batting average with five home run titles in the minor leagues.
He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of 68, and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in Saint Louis.
