File:George Washington (Babe) Wenner, Sr.jpg

Summary

George Washington "Babe" Wenner, Sr.

The father of Evie McLane and George Wenner Jr. was an engineer on the B&O Railroad for both the National and Capitol Limited train lines during his railroad career.

As important as those roles were, George was best known for his exploits as a power hitter for the Brunswick High School and town teams of his time in the first quarter of the 20th century. According to legend, George once hit a homerun over the left field fence where the team played its home games in the lot next to the Dollar Store (old ACME) on New Addition that landed in a box car and travelled to all points west, wherever that was. Not coincidentally the ballpark was known as Wenner's Field given its location on George's father's farm.

Longest home run in history?

(Photo courtesy of the Brunswick Railroad Museum)

My father tells a great story that once George and Zeke Wenner were in a bar in Weverton as young men when some guy picked a fight with Zeke. When someone asked George if he was going to defend his brother, the assailant, who was a big man, stepped up and said "what are you gonna do about it?" George, who had a stammer, answered "uh whatawhata...you sure hit him a Jesus-peeler."....Peter Wenner