Walter French
From BR Bullpen
Walter Edward French (Piggy or Fitz)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 7½", Weight 155 lb.
- School United States Military Academy, Rutgers University
- Debut September 15, 1923
- Final Game October 6, 1929
- Born July 12, 1899 in Moorestown, NJ USA
- Died May 13, 1984 in Mountain Home, AR USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Walter French played six years in the majors and was the baseball coach at the United States Military Academy from 1937 to 1942. An early NFL star, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1949.
French's major league career was all with the Philadelphia Athletics of Connie Mack. He was a regular outfielder in 1926 and 1927, and appeared in the 1929 World Series.
According to the SABR minor league database, he never hit under .300 in eight years of minor league play. He hit .363 for Williamsport in 1923, and came up for 16 games in the majors that year. In 1924 he hit .350 for Shreveport, and in 1925 became a backup with the Athletics, hitting .370 in 104 at-bats. After his major league days his highest batting average was .351 in the Southern Association in 1933.
Through 2008, he is the only major leaguer out of the Military Academy at West Point.
[edit] Notable Achievement
- Won a World Series with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929
