Recalling A “Walking Man”/Eddie Yost Home Run

He was known as “The Walking Man,” and certainly recalled as the third base coach for the 100 wins/likely 100 or more to 1, so called title winning, 1969 New York Mets.

His name: Eddie Yost.

It is a July 1960 Sunday doubleheader Tigers/Yankees (remember those along with say Horn and Hardart) and Walter Lanier “Red” Barber is marveling that Yost, at bat and then with the Detroit Tigers, certainly not a slugger, as were the three greats with more walks drawn than he, (Mr. Barber cites Babe Ruth with 2,056, Ted Williams, and Mel Ott, adding Lou Gehrig was 5th at that point, in the career walks category) because he is not a slugger/home run hitter.

Two pitches later, Yost homers off 1958 World Series star and one award/Major League Cy Young winner, (the former to me, more important), Bob Turley.

Eddie Yost, pictured above, did crack 139 big league home runs including the one “Red” called that July 1961 day.