| Wally Post | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Right fielder | |
| Born:(1929-07-09)July 9, 1929 Wendelin, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: January 6, 1982(1982-01-06) (aged 52) St. Henry, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 18, 1949, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 9, 1964, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .266 |
| Home Runs | 210 |
| Runs batted in | 699 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Walter Charles Post (July 9, 1929 – January 6, 1982) was an American professionalbaseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as aright fielder from 1949 to 1964, most prominently as a member of theCincinnati Reds, where he was one of the most prolific powerhitters in team history, and was an integral member of the1961National League pennant-winning team.[1]
Post averaged 31 home runs and 98 runs batted in per year over his first eight seasons with the Reds where together withFrank Robinson, he formed a power-hitting tandem for the Reds teams of the 1950s and early 1960s.[1][2][3] Post was also notable for his long distance home runs.[1]
He also played for thePhiladelphia Phillies,Minnesota Twins and theCleveland Indians.[4] Post was inducted into theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1965.[1]
Post is a native ofWendelin, Ohio,[5] and played baseball forSt. Henry High School.[6] He spent most of his career with Cincinnati teams.[2] A powerfulslugger in the mid-1950s,[7] he also was respected for his strong and accurate throwing arm.[7]
Post broke into professional baseball as aminor leaguepitcher in1946[7] and was converted to an outfielder in 1949, the year of his majors debut.[8] Post spent time in both the minor and major leagues for the next two years before finally being permanently called up to Cincinnati in1954.[8] His most productive season came in1955, when he hit .309 with 40 home runs with 109 RBI, all career highs.[2]
In1957, Post and six of his Redleg teammates—Ed Bailey,Johnny Temple,Roy McMillan,Don Hoak,Gus Bell andFrank Robinson—were "voted" starters on theNational League All-Star team, the result of aballot stuffing campaign by Redlegs fans.Major League Baseball CommissionerFord Frick intervened, removing Bell and Post from the starting lineup and replacing them withHank Aaron andWillie Mays. Frick allowed Bell to remain on the team as a reserve, while Post was injured and would have been unable to play in any event.[9][10]
On April 14, 1961, Post hit one of the longest recorded home runs in baseball history at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The mammoth blast was estimated at 569 ft.[11] Post is also noted as the man who ended Aaron's record-setting stint on the 1950sHome Run Derby show.
Post also hit the first home run atDodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 10, 1962.[12]After playing for the Phillies, Twins, Indians, and in a second stint with the Reds, Post retired in 1963.[2] He was inducted into theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1965.[1] In a 15-season career, Post was a .266hitter with 210home runs and 699RBI in 1,204games.[2]
Following his baseball career, Post worked in management at his father-in-law's business, the Minster Canning Company ofMinster, Ohio. Post died inSt. Henry, Ohio in 1982. He had been undergoing treatments for cancer.[8] He was married to Patricia (Beckman) and they had four children together: Sue, John, Mary, and Cynthia. Post has 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.[8] One of his grandchildren is former Ohio State and NFL quarterbackBobby Hoying.[13]