Walker was a powerful hitter and a strong-armed outfielder - one of the dead-ball
era's best. He led the AL in assists four times. Playing for the Athletics in 1918,
he hit 11 HR to share the league lead with
Babe Ruth. He continued as one of the
game's leading home run hitters through 1922, when he hit a career-high 37. But in
1923 Athletics manager
Connie Mack, stating that long-ball hitting was a fad, announced
that he would stress speed and defense in the upcoming season. The
Shibe Park fences
were moved out, cutting home runs by 63%, and Walker was benched. He then spent six
years in the minors. He was an umpire in the Appalachian League in 1938-39 and a
manager in 1940.
(LRD)
Tilly Walker
teams