Wally Post

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Wally Post
Outfielder
Born: July 9, 1929
Died: January 6, 1982 (aged 52)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 1949
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
May 9, 1964
for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics
Batting average     .266
Home Runs     210
RBI     699
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • Hit .309 with 40 home runs and 109 RBIs in 1955

Walter Charles Post (July 9, 1929 - January 6, 1982) was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1949 through 1964, Post played for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs (1949, 1951-57, 1960-63), Philadelphia Phillies (1958-60), Minnesota Twins (1963) and Cleveland Indians (1964). He batted and threw right-handed. In a 15-season career, Post was a .266 hitter with 210 home runs and 699 RBI in 1204 games.

A native of St. Wendelin, Ohio, Post spent most of his career with Cincinnati teams. A powerful slugger in the mid-1950s, he also was respected for his strong and accurate throwing arm.

Post broke into professional baseball as a minor league pitcher in 1946 and was converted to an outfielder in 1949, the year of his majors debut. Post shuttled between the minor and major leagues for the next two years before finally staying with Cincinnati in 1954. His most productive season came in 1955, when he hit .309 with 40 home runs with 109 RBI, all career highs.

In 1957, Post and six of his Redleg teammates—Ed Bailey, Johnny Temple, Roy McMillan, Don Hoak, Gus Bell and Frank Robinson—were "voted" starters on the National League All-Star team, the result of a ballot stuffing campaign by Redlegs fans. Bell remained on the team as a reserve, but Post was taken off altogether. Bell and Post were replaced as starters by Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.

Post is also noted as the man who ended Aaron's record-setting stint on the 1950's Home Run Derby show. Post also holds the distinction of hitting the first home run at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. It happened on April 10th, 1962.

After playing for the Phillies, Twins, Indians, and in a second stint with the Reds, Post retired in 1963. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1965.

Wally Post died in St. Henry, Ohio, at the age of 52. He had been undergoing treatments for cancer. He was married to Patricia (Beckman) and they had four children together: Sue, John, Mary, and Cynthia. Post has thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

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