Ken Walters
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Rogers Walters was a right-handed Major League Baseball
outfielder who played from 1960 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies
and in 1963 with the Cincinnati Reds
.
Walters was born in 1933 in Fresno, California
. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers
in 1952, he began his minor league career that year, with the Jamestown Falcons
. In 125 games, he hit .273 with three home runs and 32 doubles. He played with Jamestown in 1953 as well, hitting .320 with 13 home runs in 122 games.
Walters did not play in 1954 and 1955, however in 1956 he played for the Augusta Tigers
and Charleston Senators
, hitting a combined .251 with 20 home runs in 124 games. For the Birmingham Barons
in 1957, he hit .275 with 17 home runs in 138 games, and in 1958 he hit .255 with eight home runs in 123 games for Charleston. He played for the Fort Worth Cats
in 1959, hitting .291 with 21 home runs in 152 games. On December 5, 1959, he was traded to the Phillies with minor league Alex Cosmidis
and Ted Lepcio
for Chico Fernandez
and Ray Semproch
.
On April 12, 1960, he made his big league debut. In his first game - which was against the Cincinnati Reds - he went 1-for-3, singling in his first big league at-bat. Overall that season, he hit .239 with eight home runs in 124 games. In 426 at-bats, he struck out 50 times and walked only 16 times. He was on the Phillies' bench in 1961, hitting .228 with two home runs in 180 at-bats over 86 games.
He was purchased by Cincinnati from the Phillies on February 9, 1962. He spent all of that season in the minors, hitting .300 with 22 home runs, 43 doubles, six triples and 96 RBI in 152 games for the San Diego Padres. Back in the big leagues in 1963, he appeared in only 49 games for the Cubs, hitting .187 in 75 at-bats. He played his final big league game on September 29, 1963.
Although his big league career was over after 1963, his minor league career continued until 1965. He played for the minor league San Diego Padres in both 1964 and 1965, hitting .263 with 16 home runs in the former season and .227 with nine home runs in the latter.
Overall, Walters hit .231 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 259 big league games. In 681 at-bats, he struck out 89 times and walked only 25 times.
In the minors, he hit .276 with 129 home runs and 233 doubles in 1195 games.
Walters died in San Ramon
, California
on January 26, 2010.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder who played from 1960 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and in 1963 with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Walters was born in 1933 in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1952, he began his minor league career that year, with the Jamestown Falcons
Jamestown Falcons
The Jamestown Falcons were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1940 to 1972. They played in the PONY League from 1940 to 1956, and in the New York-Penn League in 1957 and from 1968 to 1972. Based in Jamestown, New York, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers from 1941 to...
. In 125 games, he hit .273 with three home runs and 32 doubles. He played with Jamestown in 1953 as well, hitting .320 with 13 home runs in 122 games.
Walters did not play in 1954 and 1955, however in 1956 he played for the Augusta Tigers
Augusta Tigers
The Augusta Tigers were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1936 to 1958. Based in Augusta, Georgia, they played in the South Atlantic League from 1936 to 1942, from 1946 to 1952 and from 1955 to 1958. They were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers in 1936, from 1941 to 1942 and...
and Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
, hitting a combined .251 with 20 home runs in 124 games. For the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
in 1957, he hit .275 with 17 home runs in 138 games, and in 1958 he hit .255 with eight home runs in 123 games for Charleston. He played for the Fort Worth Cats
Fort Worth Cats
The Fort Worth Cats are a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The Cats are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2002 season the Cats...
in 1959, hitting .291 with 21 home runs in 152 games. On December 5, 1959, he was traded to the Phillies with minor league Alex Cosmidis
Alex Cosmidis
Alex N. Cosmidis is an American professional baseball scout. He was a minor league baseball infielder for eleven seasons, a manager for eight, and a scout since 1982....
and Ted Lepcio
Ted Lepcio
Thaddeus Stanley Lepcio is an American former Major League Baseball utility infielder.Lepcio attended Seton Hall University. A one-time semiprofessional baseball player in Oneida, New York, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in...
for Chico Fernandez
Chico Fernandez
Humberto "Chico" Fernández Pérez is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played eight seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers , Philadelphia Phillies , Detroit Tigers , and New York Mets . Fernández played in 856 Major League games, 810 at shortstop...
and Ray Semproch
Ray Semproch
Roman Anthony Semproch , also known as Baby and Ray, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1958 to 1961 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels....
.
On April 12, 1960, he made his big league debut. In his first game - which was against the Cincinnati Reds - he went 1-for-3, singling in his first big league at-bat. Overall that season, he hit .239 with eight home runs in 124 games. In 426 at-bats, he struck out 50 times and walked only 16 times. He was on the Phillies' bench in 1961, hitting .228 with two home runs in 180 at-bats over 86 games.
He was purchased by Cincinnati from the Phillies on February 9, 1962. He spent all of that season in the minors, hitting .300 with 22 home runs, 43 doubles, six triples and 96 RBI in 152 games for the San Diego Padres. Back in the big leagues in 1963, he appeared in only 49 games for the Cubs, hitting .187 in 75 at-bats. He played his final big league game on September 29, 1963.
Although his big league career was over after 1963, his minor league career continued until 1965. He played for the minor league San Diego Padres in both 1964 and 1965, hitting .263 with 16 home runs in the former season and .227 with nine home runs in the latter.
Overall, Walters hit .231 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 259 big league games. In 681 at-bats, he struck out 89 times and walked only 25 times.
In the minors, he hit .276 with 129 home runs and 233 doubles in 1195 games.
Walters died in San Ramon
San Ramon, California
-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on January 26, 2010.