Fred E. In Baseball statistics, a hit (denoted by H) sometimes called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 1941 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in 7 games for their first title since The batting championship is awarded to the Major League Baseball player in each of the American League and the National League who has the highest Batting average Major League Baseball recognizes Runs batted in champions in the American League and National League each season "Dixie" Walker (September 24, 1910 - May 17, 1982) was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees (1931, 1933-36), Chicago White Sox (1936-37), Detroit Tigers (1938-39), Brooklyn Dodgers (1939-47) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1948-49). Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Position description Outfielders must cover large distances so speed instincts and quickness to react to the ball are key The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In an 18-season career, Walker posted a . 306 batting average with 105 home runs and 1,023 RBIs in 1,905 games. Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively Games played (most often abbreviated as G or GP) is a Statistic used in Team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has

Walker's popularity with the Ebbets Field fans in the 1940s brought him the nickname "The People's Cherce" (so-called, and -spelled, because "Choice" in the "Brooklynese" of the mid-20th century frequently was pronounced that way). Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA. The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949 Events and trends The 1940s was a period between the radical 1930s and the conservative 1950s which also leads the period to be Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on An All-Star in five consecutive years (1943-47) and the 1944 National League batting champion, he was also considered for the MVP Award five times. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively The Most Valuable Player Award (commonly known as the MVP award is an annual award given to one outstanding player in each league of Major League Baseball.

A native of Villa Rica, Georgia, Walker was the scion of a baseball family. Villa Rica (ˌvɪləˈrɪkə is a city in Carroll and Douglas Counties in the U His father, Ewart (the original "Dixie Walker"), was a pitcher for the Washington Senators (1909-12); an uncle, Ernie, was an outfielder for the St. Louis Browns (1913-15); and his younger brother, Harry "the Hat", also an outfielder, played for four National League teams between 1940 and 1955 and managed the St. Louis Cardinals (1955), Pittsburgh Pirates (1965-67) and Houston Astros (1968-72). In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in Baseball farthest from the batter The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Harry William Walker, known to baseball fans of the middle 20th century as "Harry the Hat" ( October 22, 1916 – August 8, 1999) was The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. All four Walkers batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Early career

Walker first attracted attention when he batted . 401 for Class B Greenville of the South Atlantic League in 1930. The South Atlantic League or "Sally League" is a Minor league baseball League which operates mostly in the Southeastern United States, Baseball (Negro League The St Louis Stars win the Negro National League pennant That year, at age 17, Walker was obtained by the Yankees for a then-record USD$25,000. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Although he lacked smoothness, Walker was such an outstanding prospect that the organization envisioned him as Babe Ruth's successor after batting . George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of 350 in the International League. The International League ( IL) is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. Basically a pull hitter with some power, he was also a fast runner and a competent outfielder with a fine throwing arm. Nevertheless, in his 1931 rookie season he crashed into a fence and suffered a shoulder injury that impaired his throwing. Athletics September 6 &mdash Czechoslovakia's Antonie Briksová sets a new world record in the women's 20 km walk in Prague For the Walt Disney Pictures film about Jim Morris, see The Rookie (2002 movie. The injury was corrected with a surgery and he was out in 1932 but the injury recurred a year later after a slide into second base. Auto racing Grand Prix racing - Main article 1932 Grand Prix season. Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a Baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that His first full season came in 1933 when he hit 15 home runs in 328 at-bats, and batted . 274. But the following season, injuries limited Walker to 17 games and 17 at-bats, and he batted only . 118. In 1935, the Yankees sent Walker to the minor leagues. Auto racing Grand Prix racing - Main article 1935 Grand Prix season. In May 1936, Walker's past injuries and the arrival of the Yankees' new star, Joe DiMaggio, prompted manager Joe McCarthy to trade Walker to the White Sox despite his . Events May 8: Jockey Ralph Neves was involved in a racing accident at Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo California and mistakenly pronounced Joseph Paul DiMaggio, born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio Jr ( November 25, 1914 &ndash March 8, 1999) nicknamed Joltin' Joe In Baseball, the head coach of a team is called the manager (or more formally the field manager) this individual controls matters Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14 1908 – May 2 1957 was an American politician who served as a Republican U 350 average. In total, Walker played only 131 games for the Yankees in a span of six years.

With the White Sox, Walker hit . 302 and tied for the American League lead in triples in 1937, but re-injured the damaged shoulder so badly that he needed surgery again. The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in In Baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching Third base after hitting the ball with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay (see Auto racing Grand Prix racing - Main article 1937 Grand Prix season. That December, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a multi-player deal. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA He continued to hit more than . 300 with the Tigers before ripping cartilage in a knee in 1939. Cartilage is a type of dense Connective tissue. It is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of extracellular matrix Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. Despite his consistently high batting average, it seemed injuries were going to prematurely end his career. Placed on waivers, Walker was obtained by the Dodgers on July 24, 1939 when they were in need of outfielders. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in Baseball farthest from the batter Although Walker played regularly in the Brooklyn outfield for the rest of 1939, he batted only . 280 with no power. Still, manager Leo Durocher, another Yankee discard, liked Walker's stroke and penciled him in as a regular in 1940. Leo Ernest Durocher ( July 27, 1905 – October 7, 1991) nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American Infielder and

With Brooklyn

Since the beginning, Walker became a celebrity in Brooklyn. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. In his first game for the 1940 Dodgers, he singled to right field in the 11th inning to beat the Boston Braves. Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. In that campaign, he led his team in batting average (. 308) and doubles. In Baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching Second base without being called out by the Umpire He also posted some of his best games against the New York Giants, batting . The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. 436 against the hated rivals, and as a result, endeared himself to the Brooklyn fans. Nevertheless, manager Leo Durocher opened the 1941 season with the newly acquired Paul Waner in Walker's right field spot. Leo Ernest Durocher ( July 27, 1905 – October 7, 1991) nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American Infielder and Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. Paul Glee Waner ( April 16, 1903 - August 29, 1965) was a German-American player in Professional baseball who along with In consequence, Brooklyn fans were outraged but the veteran Waner faded fast and was sent to the Boston Braves. Walker returned becoming part of an all-. 300-hitting outfield (along with center fielder Pete Reiser and left fielder Joe Medwick) that led the Dodgers to the 1941 National League pennant. A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the Outfielder in Baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position Harold Patrick "Pete" Reiser ( March 17 1919 - October 25 1981) the original "Pistol Pete" was a talented and exciting A left fielder (LF is an Outfielder in the sport of Baseball who plays defense in left field. Joseph Michael Medwick ( November 24, 1911 &ndash March 21, 1975) nicknamed "Ducky" was an American player in Major The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball

In the following years, Walker continued to produce. He hit . 290 in 1942 and . Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 302 in 1943. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1944, he led the NL with a . Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. 357 batting average (ahead of Stan Musial's . Stanley Frank Musial (born November 21, 1920) originally Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, (ˈmjuːziəl nicknamed "Stan the Man" and 347) but the NL MVP award went to fielding wizard shortstop Marty Marion. Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and Third base. Martin Whiteford Marion (born December 1 1917 in Richburg South Carolina) is a former Shortstop and manager in Major League Walker hit . 300 and won the 1945 RBI title with 124. Some sporting events did not take place because of World War II. In 1946 he was second in RBIs (116) and third in batting average (. Athletics Marathon August 22 &mdash European Championships Marathon, Oslo Norway Men's 319), finishing second in the MVP vote behind Musial.

Integration

When the Dodgers broke baseball's color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson, Walker became a figure of some controversy. The baseball color line, sometimes called the " Gentleman's Agreement " was the policy unwritten for nearly its entire duration which excluded African Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31 1919 – October 24 1972 was a Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1947, during spring training, the club announced that it was bringing up Robinson from the minors. Athletics Marathon August 20 &mdash Enschede Marathon, Netherlands Men's Winner In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the Regular season. Walker thereupon wrote a letter to Branch Rickey, the club president, asking him to be traded. Wesley Branch Rickey ( December 15 1881 &ndash December 9 1965) was an innovative Major League Baseball executive best known The letter did not mention Robinson by name, but Walker acknowledged later that he had been under pressure from Alabama people not to play with Robinson. Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Several other Dodgers from the U.S. South who had also grown up in conditions of strict racial segregation made similar requests of Rickey. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive Walker denied, nevertheless, that he had been in the forefront of a move to block Robinson. Reportedly, Robinson would look the other way rather than try to shake Walker's hand on the field, to avoid mutual embarrassment. Walker was soon defending Robinson and giving him pointers, and added that he came to respect Robinson for the way he handled the abuse hurled at him, and called him "as outstanding an athlete as I never saw. " Walker finished the year at . 306 and 94 RBIs.

Whatever his opinion might have been at the time about integration, Walker saluted Robinson the baseball player when the 1947 pennant was won: "He is everything Branch Rickey said he was when he came up from Montreal. The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897-1917 and from 1928-60 as a member " And with time, and as baseball welcomed more black and Latin players into its ranks, Walker's position about integration surely evolved as well. He managed integrated teams in the AAA International League in the late 1950s, coached for the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves and made clear to reporters that he was not the same Dixie Walker as he was in 1947. The International League ( IL) is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St His support of Jim Crow during Robinson's rookie season sprang partly from concerns for his home and businesses in his native Alabama – “I didn't know if people would spit on me or not [for playing with a black man]," he once said. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted primarily but not exclusively in the Southern and border states of the United States between 1876 and 1965 Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Indeed, his final years in baseball in the late 1960s through the 1970s were as the minor league batting instructor for one of the game's most diverse organizations, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA

Sent to the Pirates in 1948, Walker led his team with a . 318 average (topping the . 300 mark for the tenth time in 12 years) and ended his playing career the next season. Following his retirement as a player, he managed several minor league teams for most of the 1950s, including the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1957 to 1959, winning the International League pennant in his first season with the team. The Toronto Maple Leafs were a high-level Minor league baseball club located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that played from 1896 to 1967 The International League ( IL) is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. He served as a batting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals, and coached and scouted both for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. In Baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St "Talent scout" redirects here For talent scouting in the music industry see A&R Professional sports scouts are trained talent The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA

Dixie Walker died in Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 71. Birmingham (ˈbɝmɪŋhæm is the largest City in the US state of Alabama and is the County seat of Jefferson County. He is interred at Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery. Elmwood Cemetery is a 412- Acre (167-hectare Cemetery established in the 1880s (as Elm Leaf Cemetery on the western side of Birmingham in Jefferson

See also

• List of major league players with 2,000 hits
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBIs
• Hitting for the cycle
• List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
• List of Major League Baseball batting champions
• List of Major League Baseball triples champions
• List of second generation MLB players
• Chicago White Sox all-time roster

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Baseball Library
• Sports Illustrated
• The Deadball Era