| Wally Berger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: October 10, 1905 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| Died: November 30, 1988 (aged 83) Redondo Beach, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 15, 1930, for the Boston Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 2, 1940, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .300 |
| Home runs | 242 |
| Runs batted in | 898 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Walter Anton Berger (October 10, 1905 – November 30, 1988) was an American professional baseball player, scout and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1930 to 1940, most prominently as a member of the Boston Braves, where he was four-time All-Star player and was one of the most prolific power hitters of his era before injuries prematurely ended his playing career after just 10 seasons.[1][2]
In his first season as a major league player, Berger hit 38 home runs to set a home run record for rookies which stood for 57 years.[1] He averaged 28 home runs and 103 runs batted in along with a .307 batting average over the first seven years of his career, and was the starting center fielder for the National League (NL) in the first All-Star Game.[1]
Berger played in relative obscurity for the perennially losing Braves teams of the 1930s.[1][2] In 1935 he led the NL with 34 home runs and 130 runs batted in despite the Braves having the fourth-most losses in MLB history.[2] His 190 home runs hit as a Brave are a Boston franchise record and, he was the seventh NL player to hit 200 career home runs.[1]
Berger also played for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies.[2] He appeared in two World Series campaigns later in his career with the Giants in 1937 and the Reds in 1939, losing both times to the New York Yankees.[2] After serving as a baseball coach in the United States Navy during World War II, Berger worked as a scout for the Giants and Yankees and managed in the Yankees minor league organization.[1]