Bucky Walters

Bucky Walters
Birthdate 04/19/1909
Death Date 04/20/1991
Debut Year 1931
Year of Induction
Teams Braves, Phillies, Reds
Positions Pitcher, Third Base

The 1939 MVP, Bucky Walters was a six-time All Star who averaged 20 wins from 1939-1944. His 42 career shutouts rank 38th all time.

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In the collection:

Former MVP Bucky Walters was a teenager when he filled out this card

Former MVP Bucky Walters was a teenager when he filled out this card

Bucky Walters pitched his way into the Cooperstown conversation, leading the league in wins three times, ERA twice, and earning the 1939 NL MVP Award. From 1939-1944 he averaged more than 20 wins per season while posting a sparkling 2.67 earned run average. Many fans don’t recall that his care
Walters is in the Cooperstown conversation

Walters is in the Cooperstown conversation

The reverse of Bucky Walters’ Heilbroner Baseball Bureau information card reveals quite a baseball odyssey. Walters suited up for ten professional teams, eight of them of the minor league variety. The listing ends in 1934, just before Walters took up his work on the mound in earnest. When Buck
Bucky Walters was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1958

Bucky Walters was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1958

Inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958, Bucky Walters was the second of three consecutive Reds to win the NL MVP Award. First came Ernie Lombardi in 1938, then Walters, then Frank McCormick in 1940. Shown here is a letter from then-Vice President and General Manager of the Red, Hall
Bucky Walters won 20 or more three times and finished with 198 wins

Bucky Walters won 20 or more three times and finished with 198 wins

In the 1960s and 70s Jim Rowe used George Brace’s photos and put them on Kodak paper to make postcards. In this handwritten letter Bucky Walter scolds Rowe. “Have been receiving many pictures lately for autographing; some that were sold by you…I’m glad to see a guy make a buc
Bucky Walters helped the Reds to two pennants and one World Series title

Bucky Walters helped the Reds to two pennants and one World Series title

In the collection is another handwritten letter from the Cincinnati great. Originally a third baseman, Walters debuted in 1931 and did not take the mound until being traded to Philadelphia three years later. In 1936 he led the league in shutouts then in 1937 he paced the circuit in starts while winn
Many believe Bucky Walters belongs in Cooperstown

Many believe Bucky Walters belongs in Cooperstown

Many of the game’s power brokers have good things to say about Bucky Walters. From Joe Brown the former chairman of the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, “Bucky had a wonderful career and a great reputation to match. He has reached the consideration of the Veterans Committee and I’m certain it will continue.” Former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda had

A Story about Bucky Walters

Joe DiMaggio’s 1939 October blast left an impression on the baseball lifer who surrendered it

October 7th, 2018 Leave a comment

1939 World Series

Pro career starts at age 17 Gene Thompson enjoyed a pro baseball career that spanned parts of eight decades. Signed by the Reds as a 17-year old in 1935, Thompson played until 1950. Two years later at age 35, he embarked on a scouting career that lasted until after his 88th birthday. The highlight of his playing career came in his first year as a Major Leaguer in 1939. Debuting as a 21-year old, Thompson excelled in his role as the Reds swingman, going 13-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 11 starts and 31 relief appearances. Thompson wasn’t the only stellar performer. The Reds got 27 wins from MVP Bucky Walters and a league-leading 128 RBI from first baseman Frank McCormick. Cincinnati won 97 games to earn the National League pennant. Thompson’s Reds face the Yankees in October In the World Series, Cincinnati squared off against Joe McCarthy’s heavily-favored Yankees. After dropping the first two games in New York, the Reds tabbed Thompson to start Game 3 in Cincinnati. A win by the home team would put the Reds back in the thick of things; a loss would put them in a 3-0 hole against the two-time defending champs. In […]

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One response to “Bucky Walters”

  1. BOB Schachte says:

    I am the nephew of the Late Jimmy Wilson who made Bucky a pitcher. They became great friends. I met Bucky many times. I first saw him pitch game 6 of the 1940 world series. After he retired he hooked up with me to play a round of golf with him and Dizzy Dean. never forget that. wish I taken some pictures of them.

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