Walt Moryn
From BR Bullpen
Walter Joseph Moryn (Moose)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
- Debut June 29, 1954
- Final Game September 28, 1961
- Born April 12, 1926 in St. Paul, MN USA
- Died July 21, 1996 in Winfield, IL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Outfielder Walt Moryn was signed as an amateur free agent by the Brooklyn Dodgers before the 1948 season. The 22 year old left-handed hitter's first stop was with the Sheboygan Indians where he led the Wisconsin State League in runs scored with 128, hit for a .338 average with 12 home runs and made the All-Star team. Walt would have several good minor league years but it would take seven seasons (1948-54) before the Brooklyn Brass would give him a look and in 1954 he was up for 48 games, hitting .275 in 102 plate appearances. Walt would also be with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association in '54, hitting .301 with 18 homers in 71 games.
Walt was back with the Dodgers in 1955, got into only eleven games, hit .263 and spent the rest of the year with the St. Paul club again, where he hit .249 with 25 homers. On December 9, 1955 he was traded along with Don Hoak and Russ Meyer to the Chicago Cubs for Don Elston and Randy Jackson.
Walt was a big lefthand swinger with power, he hit a career high .289 with 19 homers and 88 RBIs in 1957 and a career high 26 home runs in 1958, including three in one game against the Dodgers. Moryn was also named to the National League All-Star Team in 1958. Walt who led all National League outfielders with 18 assists in 1956, made an outstanding shoestring catch of a sinking line drive off the bat of Joe Cunningham with two outs in the ninth inning to save Don Cardwell's no-hitter against the Cardinals in 1960.
Walt would close out his eight year major league run in 1961, with the Cardinals and the Pirates, finishing at age 35 with a career .266 batting average with 101 home runs. He had also spent eight seasons in the minors where he appeared in 1,010 games, hit for a .288 average and had 140 four-baggers. After baseball, Moryn who owned a bar in the Chicago area, died July 21, 1996, at age 70 in Winfield, Illinois.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- NL All-Star (1958)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1956 & 1958)
