Walt Kuhn (baseball)

Walt Kuhn
Catcher
Born: (1887-02-02)February 2, 1887
Fresno, California, U.S.
Died: June 14, 1935(1935-06-14) (aged 48)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 18, 1912, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 1914, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.205
Hits55
Runs batted in15
Teams

Charles Walter Kuhn (February 2, 1887 – June 14, 1935), known also as "Red" Kuhn, was a professional baseball player. During his playing career, Kuhn, a catcher, played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Chicago White Sox (1912–1914). Over those three years, he compiled a batting average of .205 with 25 runs scored, 55 hits, nine doubles, and 15 runs batted in (RBIs) in 119 games played. The majority of Kuhn's career was spent in the minor leagues. He played seven seasons in the minors with the Fresno California State League club (1905), San Francisco Orphans (1908), Fresno Tigers/Raisin Growers (1908–1910), Portland Beavers (1911), Oakland Oaks (1915), Salt Lake City Bees (1916), Waco Navigators (1916), and Dallas Giants (1917).

Kuhn was born in Fresno, California, and educated in Louisville, Kentucky. He started is professional career in 1908 at the age of 18. During his playing career, Kuhn stood at 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighed 162 pounds (73 kg). He broke into the major leagues in 1912. His last MLB season would be 1914. After playing for various minor league clubs, Kuhn was drafted into the United States Armed Forces during World War I. However, Kuhn never saw combat due to the loss of his right eye, which was caused by a prank pulled on him by his roommate during combat training. The injury also meant the end of his professional baseball career. Kuhn died in 1935 in his home-town of Fresno.