#64: Jerome “Wasn’t Built in a Day” Walton
Remember that thrilling, NL-East-winning 1989 Cubs team? Rookie Dwight Smith would have won the NL Rookie of the Year but for his own teammate, leadoff hitter and centerfielder Jerome Walton. Walton was fast, he was exciting, and he captured the interest of Chicago when he strung together a thirty-game hitting streak. He played a solid centerfield and had a strong arm. Picture what Corey Patterson was supposed to be, only minus the power and the wild swinging. He was also one of the few Cubs to bring his bat to the 1989 NLCS.
So why is he on the Bottom 126? Because his career didn’t end in 1989. Remember that one Seinfeld when George realized he always made one comment too many in meetings, so he decided to “go out on a high note” by leaving in the middle of his meetings right after he made a funny comment? That episode aired too late for Walton to heed its important message.
Walton was great as a rookie, and Cubs fans in Chicago expected they had found their leadoff man and centerfielder for years to come. Then, his numbers dropped, and dropped, and dropped. He stopped stealing bases, which was partly due to the fact that he stopped getting on base. What little power he had “up and vanished like a fart in the wind,” to quote evil Warden Norton from The Shawshank Redemption. Walton’s stock dropped so fast that the Cubs were forced to go with Chico Walker, and later, Doug Dascenzo in centerfield. And no one could blame them for it.
The Cubs had little choice but to grant Walton free agency at the end of the 1992 season. Walton rewarded them by stringing together his best year in 1995. With the Cincinnati Reds.
Walton gets further negative points added into his Bottom 126 score for showing up at the Cubs Convention this year with bodyguards. Ha ha! He has a big posse. What? I said “posse.”
Low Point: What happened to the power, Jerome? In part-time action in 1992, his last as a Cub, Walton collected only one extra-base hit, a triple, in 55 at-bats for a .164 SLG.
Did You Know? In 1990, Walton was part of a set of 11 lithographs of “superstar players” given away in a sweepstakes put together by Bowman. I’d be more interested in seeing a lithograph of his posse. What? I said “posse.”
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Comments
Slaky Imagine how big this guy’s head got after his rookie year. He probably stopped practicing altogether. Would love to see what this guy is up to right now.
TDubbs I actually met Jerome once. He was signing autographs at Stratford Square Mall or something one day with Mitch Williams. I was only like 9 or 10 years old a the time, so I thought it was the coolest thing ever and he was the greatest player. They both signed a ball and a neon pink hat (that, as far as you guys know, was my sister’s). For me, it was one of the best days of my life up to that point. I look back on that day now and wish I stayed home and ate glue.
Mike D. What #1 said. Jerome showed up the following spring in Mesa looking like Nate Newton.
Thus inspired, Stacy King went on the same diet following HIS rookie year in 89-90.
TDubbs There was a line, so I had to get there early. Then, since I woke up early, I had to go to bed early. So no, I couldn’t do both
JD I hated Walton with his stupid open stance and loved Dwight Smith. I still positive Dwight Smith to this day.
CoreyP Chicks dig the long ball, not walks. They shoulda hit me third, instead of in the two-hole. Hee hee…two-hole.
CT
bocaj
StPatrick
BigFlax
PenFoe
Some of my numbers went up after 1989. Like my weight.