1970 32 Harry Walker
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| Harry Walker |
As this card was being pulled from packs, the Astros were headed to a record of 79-83 and a fourth place finish. In 1969, they had achieved a .500 record and a fifth place finish. Walker and the 1969 Astros were discussed at some length in Bouton's book. At the time the Astros traded to get Bouton, they remained in serious contention as the season was nearing its end. Only a string of losses at that point knocked them out of contention. Bouton had good things to say about Walker and his managerial ability.
I remember Walker from 1979 when he did some freelance coaching with some of the Pirate hitters - helping to raise the batting average of Omar Moreno and others in the early part of the season. I also remember him sitting in the booth with the Pirate broadcasters as they visited Houston in midsummer. I did not really know who he was at that point. The Pirate announcers (Milo Hamilton and Lanny Fratare) did not explain his history. He just appeared to be a hitting expert that had many good things to say about the Pirate hitters as those Pirate-Astro games went on. Listening to him during that series contributed to the general feeling that 1979 was going to be something special. Only years later did I realize that he had been a manager for the Pirates and other teams.
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