Oscar Walker
From BR Bullpen
Oscar Walker
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 10", Weight 166 lb.
- Debut September 17, 1875
- Final Game September 4, 1885
- Born March 18, 1854 in Brooklyn, NY USA
- Died May 20, 1889 in Brooklyn, NY USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Oscar Walker played one game in the National Association, and then played in both the new National League when it started as well as the new American Association when it started.
Walker was one of the better hitters on the 1879 Buffalo Bisons, and although he hit .230 and .239 in 1880 and 1882, had batting, on-base, and slugging averages better than his teams' averages in those years. In a dubious accomplishment on June 20, 1879, he became the first major leaguer to strike out five times in a game. In 1882, he led the American Association in home runs. In 1884, he had the highest batting, on-base, and slugging averages on his team, the Brooklyn Atlantics.
He played roughly equal numbers of games at first base and in center field during his major league career. He originally signed with St. Paul for the 1877 season, but then joined Manchester, who dropped him on September 2. On December 5, Walker's expulsion was handed down for "contract jumping."
He died at age 35 in Brooklyn, the town in which he had been born and the town in which he had played in 1875 and 1884.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AA Home Runs Leader (1882)
