Walt Dropo, Former Red Sox And Rookie Of The Year, Dies At 87
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 21, 2010 7:41 PM EST
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PrintWalt Dropo, former Red Sox first baseman, died Friday of natural causes.
Walt Dropo is not an instantly recognizable name for most Red Sox fans today. Certainly, some of the older members of the Nation, and those more dedicated to the game and club's history will remember the 27-year-old rookie who slugged 34 homers and drove in 144 runs in 1950, claiming a share of the MVP vote to go with his Rookie of the Year and All Star honors.
They may also remember Dropo fracturing his right wrist the next year, and seeing his dominant numbers disappear overnight. Dropo would be traded after just 37 games with the team in '52, finding his home run stroke one last time with Detroit before slowly fading into obscurity, playing in parts of 13 seasons, 12 of them uninspiring.
Known as "Moose", Dropo served his country in World War II before returning to baseball. His 1950 Rookie of the Year award came on the 94-60 Red Sox playing alongside greats like Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr, and but for a fractured wrist, he might be mentioned alongside those names more often today.
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I golfed with him around 1989
My dad won some charity raffle, so we went. Really nice guy. I was about 12, had just read Summer of 49 and thus had a gazillion questions about Williams, Doerr, Stephens, Parnell, Dimaggio, etc. He kept it “pg” but had me entertained for 18 holes. Drove about 280, IIRC, with not much effort.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Monster 1950
Damn shame the injury stole several seasons from him. Even if Teddy and Walt would never have had too many productive years together.
You were right to insinuate that the current generation of the Red Sox fans cannot know the dead Walt Dropo because he was a special case in 1950s. I also read about him and the 34 homers he slugged in the 1950. I am very humbled to wish him well wherever he is now. It’s a dent that cannot be filled RIP Dropo
Michael Jordan wants to make Bobcats winner
by thorstenmikkelsen on Dec 22, 2010 8:24 AM EST reply actions
Worth noting
He was the first Red Sox to win ROY award.
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