Remembering Bucky Walters

Bucky Walters during his time in Philadelphia

One day shy of his fourth anniversary in joining the Phillies in 1934, pitcher Bucky Walters is traded 86 years ago today by Philadelphia to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Spud Davis, pitcher Al Hollingsworth and $50,000.

While Walters pitches well enough to become an All-Star with the moribund Phillies, his career takes off in Cincinnati, where he goes 160-107 in 11 seasons and helps the Reds win the National League pennant both in 1939 and ’40.

He wins at least 22 games on three occasions for the Reds – the same number of 20-win seasons posted by Jim Bunning, Don Sutton and Bert Blyleven total together during their Hall of Fame careers.

Walters also is named to six All-Star teams during his 13 full seasons pitching in the majors – the same number as Sutton and Blyleven combine for during their aggregate 45 seasons in the majors.

“Big, important games never fazed him,” longtime infielder and onetime teammate Billy Werber says of Walters, “and he seemed to get better as the game went on. We could count on him.”