On June 24, 1968, during a game in which Jim Northrup hit two grand slams, Wert was beaned in the 6th inning by Cleveland Indians pitcher Hal Kurtz. The pitch hit Wert in the head, shattering his batting helmet. Wert was carried off on a stretcher, spent two nights in the hospital, missed several games, and was never the same hitter again. He had never hit lower than .257 in five prior seasons, but his batting average dropped to a career-low .200 in 1968, as he managed only 107 hits in 536 at bats.