[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1328-E1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO WALLY A. ``PREACHER'' HEBERT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2005

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the 
life and career of Wally A. ``Preacher'' Hebert. Wally is holder of 4 
pitching records for the San Diego Padres and on June 25, 2005, he will 
be inducted into the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres Hall of 
Fame.
  Born in Lake George, Louisiana in 1907, Wally's talents and interests 
were evident at a very early age. Aside from gardening, hunting, and 
fishing as a child, he became an expert golfer, playing close to par 
with a 2 iron and a putter. He enjoyed athletics and when it came to 
football and baseball, Wally excelled over his peers.
  At Lake Charles High School, Wally was an all-state football star and 
had been offered a scholarship at Louisiana State University when he 
caught the eye of a major league baseball scout. In his first 
professional game in Springfield, Missouri, he got off the train from 
Louisiana, went to the ballpark, and pitched a 22 inning complete game 
victory.
  In 1931, Preacher, as he was also known, was called up to spring 
training for the St. Louis Browns and remained with the team throughout 
the rest of that season. As a lefthander, he began to attract attention 
with a variety of curve balls at various speeds and arm motions. His 
first major league appearance came that year against the New York 
Yankees where he faced Babe Ruth with the bases loaded and one out. The 
Babe hit into an inning-ending double play.
  That season, Preacher won six games and was the only pitcher in the 
major leagues to beat the New York Yankees and the world champion 
Philadelphia Athletics twice in one season. His finest game that year 
included 8 shut out innings against the Yankees--striking out Lou 
Gehrig and Ruth three times. Unfortunately, St. Louis lost the game by 
one run after Preacher exited the game.
  Over the next two seasons in St. Louis, Preacher pitched in relief, 
battling a shoulder injury. He was then sold to the Hollywood Stars 
which after one season, moved to San Diego and began playing at Lane 
Field. During seven seasons with the San Diego Padres, Preacher 
delighted fans with a dominating presence and pinpoint control.

  While with the Padres, Wally and his bride Bobbie moved out to 
California where they

[[Page E1329]]

had their first two children, Hillene and Linda. Of all their children, 
Hillene had the ability to do what the opposition could rarely 
accomplish; knocking her father out of a game. Preacher was pitching 
when Hillene's birth was announced, at which point he collapsed on the 
mound.
  His finest season as a Padre came in 1942 when he established records 
for most complete games pitched, batters faced, and innings pitched. 
During this season, Preacher finished every game he started.
  In 1943, Preacher was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and at the end 
of the season, he faced a turning point in his career. While his arm 
was as strong as ever, his oldest daughter was beginning first grade 
and America's involvement in World War II made domestic travel 
difficult. When Bobbie indicated that the family would not be traveling 
to Pittsburgh that season, Wally chose his family and his beloved 
Louisiana over baseball. He turned down a contract worth $10,000 to 
earn 35 cents per hour in a wartime synthetic rubber factory.
  After settling in Westlake, Louisiana, Wally and Bobbie had three 
sons and he resumed his life of hunting, fishing, and gardening while 
working in a nearby Firestone factory. He devoted himself to his family 
after his retirement from Firestone in 1965 and remained active as an 
outdoorsman until his death in 1999.
  Today, Wally is survived by his beloved Bobbie, five children, 
numerous grandchildren. The legacy of Wally ``Preacher'' Hebert will 
long be remembered throughout the San Diego community and I ask that my 
colleagues join me in paying tribute to his life and long list of 
accomplishments.

                          ____________________