Walt Bond
Born: 10/19/1937 in Denmark, TN, USA
Died: 9/14/1967 in Houston, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1960-04-19 | Final Game: 1967-05-07
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'7" | Weight: 228 lbs
Full name: Walter Franklin Bond
Biography
Walt Bond was an American professional baseball player born in 1937, who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1960 until 1967. He was primarily known as a position player, showcasing his talents over the course of 365 games. Bond finished his career with a batting average of .256, accumulating 307 hits, 41 home runs, and 179 RBIs. He also recorded 10 stolen bases, demonstrating a blend of power and speed during his playing days.
Bond's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by a growing emphasis on power hitting and the emergence of newer talent across the league. He played in an era that saw the game evolve, with players increasingly leveraging their athleticism and power to impact games. Although his career was relatively brief, Walt Bond's contributions on the field reflect the competitive spirit of the early 1960s MLB landscape, and his legacy remains part of the rich tapestry of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 365 | 1199 | 149 | 307 | 40 | 11 | 41 | 179 | 10 | 106 | 175 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.410 | 0.733 | 1095.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | CLE | AL | 40 | 131 | 19 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 0.221 | -135.0 |
| 1961 | CLE | AL | 38 | 52 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 0.173 | -155.8 |
| 1962 | CLE | AL | 12 | 50 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 0.380 | 547.5 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 148 | 543 | 63 | 138 | 16 | 7 | 20 | 85 | 2 | 38 | 90 | 0.254 | 515.3 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 117 | 407 | 46 | 107 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 47 | 2 | 42 | 51 | 0.263 | 323.2 |
| 1967 | MIN | AL | 10 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.312 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 150 | 144 | 1335 | 89 | 20 | 98 |
| OF | 172 | 161 | 290 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | CLE | OF | 36 | 33 | 76 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | CLE | OF | 12 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | CLE | OF | 12 | 12 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | HOU | 1B | 76 | 76 | 685 | 40 | 8 | 46 |
| 1964 | HOU | OF | 71 | 70 | 111 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 1965 | HOU | 1B | 74 | 68 | 650 | 49 | 12 | 52 |
| 1965 | HOU | OF | 38 | 36 | 54 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | MIN | OF | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 150 |
| Left Field | 58 |
| Center Field | 13 |
| Right Field | 102 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane College | Jackson | TN | 1956 |