DANNY WALTON

Danny Walton was a magnificent power prospect.  He was the Sporting News' Minor League Player of the Year in 1969 while in the Houston Astros organization.  Near the end of that season, he was traded to the expansion Seattle Pilots.  In 1970, when the Pilots relocated to Milwaukee and became the Brewers, Walton was a leading contender for the AL Rookie of the Year Award during the first half of the season.  He tore up his knee during the season and, even though he played through it, he was never the same.  He spent the rest of the decade as the ultimate journeyman, appearing with five more major league teams and even spending some time in Japan.

Walton only hit .176 over his big league stints with the Twins in 1973 and 1975.  In 1974, he spent the entire season at AAA Tacoma and smashed 35 homers and 109 RBI.  Three years later, he would blast 42 homers while in the Dodgers' system.  Despite all of his ability and raw power, he would total only 28 home runs in 297 games over a nine-year major league career.