For What It’s ‘Werth’

On the day after the Philadelphia Phillies faced Jayson Werth in an opposing uniform for the first time. it seems appropriate to briefly summarize the Werth years in Philadelphia ending with his high-profile, high-priced move to the Washington Nationals. And I’m not talking about his baseball stats.

What I am REALLY talking about is his facial hair!  I can’t think of a player in recent memory who was more talked about for his beard than for his bat.  His notorious stubble even had its own Twitter account!  (@jwerthsbeard.)

But things did not start out that way for young Jayson.  Here he is as a first-round draft pick for the Baltimore Orioles in 1997.

A HAIRLESS AND HAPLESS ROOKIE

Yes, that IS Jayson.  He kicked around in the Orioles Minor League system until they traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 where he made his Major League debut.

WERTH HITS THE MAJORS STILL HAIR-FREE

So what could have happened to this clean-cut mid-western boy playing America’s game?

How did he go from neat to neanderthal?

Our first indication came when the Blue Jays traded Jason to the Dodgers in 2004.  He was in Hollywood now  and it was time he started to look the part.

THE STUBBLE STORY BEGINS

This new look, however, did nothing to change his old luck.  In 2005 he was hit by a pitch and broke his left wrist. Even when he returned from the injury he had a subpar 2005 season.  After yet another wrist injury requiring surgery,  Jayson missed the entire 2006 campaign.  Beard or no beard, this was not the Hollywood story he was hoping for.

Then on December 19, 2006 Werth signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Philles.  (By the way, his salary?  $850,000.)

A SLOW START ON BASE AND ON HIS FACE

It took Jayson a while to win the right field job.  He started the 2008 season platooning with Geoff Jenkins (there’s a future sports trivia answer) before winning the full time spot and after 11 years in the majors Jayson was finally an everyday player.

That’s when things really got interesting.

Here are some of the looks that made Jayson a legend, at least in the hair department (and with the ladies!)

HAIRIN' TO GO

MAYBE SAMSON WAS ON TO SOMETHING

THE FINEST SHAMPOO MONEY CAN BUY

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE

OK, so that last one isn’t really Jason.

But alas, all good things must come to an end as did Jayson’s time in Phillies red.  On December 5, 2010 free agent Werth signed a 7-year $126 million contract with the Washington Nationals.

And along with this high-priced  contract came a toned-down look.

NEWLY SHAVED AND NEWLY RICH

So our tale of the tresses draws to a close.  And while Jayson may be missing his old Phillies teammates and his many fans, don’t worry.

He has a lot of new friends to keep him company.

Millions of them!

WHO SAYS MONEY CAN'T BUY......EVERYTHING!