Wayne Tolleson
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Wayne Tolleson is a former Major League Baseball
player. A switch hitter
who threw right-handed, Tolleson was listed at 5'9" tall and 160 pounds during his playing career.
. During his college career, Tolleson set ten WCU season and career records, earning All-Southern Conference honors at shortstop
in and . In 1978, he was named Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Year, SoCon Athlete of the Year and was an All-NCAA Atlantic Region selection. He was also a member of the Southern Conference's 75th Anniversary team.
Tolleson was also a star football player at WCU, hauling in 105 passes for 1,747 yards and 14 touchdowns over two seasons. Tolleson was named All-Southern Conference as a wide receiver
after leading both the conference and the NCAA Division I in receiving in 1977 with 73 catches for 1,101 yards and seven touchdowns. In 1977, he was WCU's emergency placekicker
and was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals, and connected on 22 of 24 extra point
kicks. At the first-ever Canadian-American Bowl in Tampa, Florida
, Tolleson returned the opening kickoff
. He was later named to WCU's All-20th Century Football Team and in , was inducted into WCU's Athletics Hall of Fame.
chose Tolleson in the 12th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft
, but he decided to return to school for his senior year rather than sign with Pittsburgh. The Texas Rangers
chose Tolleson with the 202nd pick of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
, and this time he signed.
After batting .261 with 36 stolen base
s for the Wichita Aeros
in , Tolleson received a call up to the majors when rosters expanded that September. He debuted with the Rangers on September 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays
, pinch hitting in the seventh inning and remaining in the game at shortstop. He split between the Rangers and their triple A affiliate, the Denver Bears, and earned the starting second baseman
job in and . He displayed excellent speed and good defense, totaling 55 stolen bases in the two seasons, but he also struggled to maintain an acceptable batting average
and he never hit for much power.
In , he shifted into a utility infielder
role, receiving most of his playing time at short as the Rangers reacquired Toby Harrah
to play second during the off season. Tolleson responded by batting .313 with a stellar .733 on base percentage
, both career bests by far.
as general manager of the Chicago White Sox
, due to his involvement in two of Harrelson's iconic trades. On November 25, , the Rangers traded Tolleson and relief pitcher Dave Schmidt
to the White Sox in exchange for shortstops Scott Fletcher and José Mota and pitching prospect Ed Correa
. He was a member of the White Sox for only a few months, as Chicago sent him to the New York Yankees
in another deal on July 30, . In addition to Tolleson, the White Sox shipped out former All-Star
Ron Kittle
and backup catcher Joel Skinner
, acquiring first baseman
/third baseman Carlos Martínez and catcher
s Ron Hassey
and Bill Lindsey
. Tolleson spent the rest of his career as a reserve for the Yankees, retiring in .
and Clint. Steven is currently an infielder in the Oakland Athletics
system and was recently called up by the A's. Wayne's father, Jim played seven seasons in the minor leagues for the Cleveland Indians
, Boston Red Sox
and Detroit Tigers
, and his brother, Michael, played two seasons in the Indians organization.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. A switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
who threw right-handed, Tolleson was listed at 5'9" tall and 160 pounds during his playing career.
Western Carolina University
Tolleson first attracted the attention of scouts while playing college ball at Western Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
. During his college career, Tolleson set ten WCU season and career records, earning All-Southern Conference honors at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in and . In 1978, he was named Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Year, SoCon Athlete of the Year and was an All-NCAA Atlantic Region selection. He was also a member of the Southern Conference's 75th Anniversary team.
Tolleson was also a star football player at WCU, hauling in 105 passes for 1,747 yards and 14 touchdowns over two seasons. Tolleson was named All-Southern Conference as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
after leading both the conference and the NCAA Division I in receiving in 1977 with 73 catches for 1,101 yards and seven touchdowns. In 1977, he was WCU's emergency placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals, and connected on 22 of 24 extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
kicks. At the first-ever Canadian-American Bowl in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Tolleson returned the opening kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
. He was later named to WCU's All-20th Century Football Team and in , was inducted into WCU's Athletics Hall of Fame.
Texas Rangers
The Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
chose Tolleson in the 12th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft
1977 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The White Sox raised some brows when they passed on right-handed pitcher Bill Gullickson, a native of nearby Orland Park, IL, and selected outfielder Harold Baines as the number one...
, but he decided to return to school for his senior year rather than sign with Pittsburgh. The Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
chose Tolleson with the 202nd pick of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
, and this time he signed.
After batting .261 with 36 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s for the Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
in , Tolleson received a call up to the majors when rosters expanded that September. He debuted with the Rangers on September 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, pinch hitting in the seventh inning and remaining in the game at shortstop. He split between the Rangers and their triple A affiliate, the Denver Bears, and earned the starting second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
job in and . He displayed excellent speed and good defense, totaling 55 stolen bases in the two seasons, but he also struggled to maintain an acceptable batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and he never hit for much power.
In , he shifted into a utility infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
role, receiving most of his playing time at short as the Rangers reacquired Toby Harrah
Toby Harrah
Colbert Dale Harrah is a former professional baseball player who played with the Texas Rangers both before and after their 1971 franchise shift before later being traded to the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees...
to play second during the off season. Tolleson responded by batting .313 with a stellar .733 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, both career bests by far.
Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees
Tolleson is often identified with the brief, disappointing tenure of Ken HarrelsonKen Harrelson
Kenneth Smith Harrelson , nicknamed "The Hawk" due to his distinctive profile, is a former All-Star first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball...
as general manager of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, due to his involvement in two of Harrelson's iconic trades. On November 25, , the Rangers traded Tolleson and relief pitcher Dave Schmidt
Dave Schmidt
David Joseph Schmidt , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched twelve seasons in the majors from until . He is currently the pitching coordinator for the Orioles.-External links:...
to the White Sox in exchange for shortstops Scott Fletcher and José Mota and pitching prospect Ed Correa
Ed Correa
Edwin Josue Correa is a retired professional baseball player who played three seasons for the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball...
. He was a member of the White Sox for only a few months, as Chicago sent him to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in another deal on July 30, . In addition to Tolleson, the White Sox shipped out former All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Ron Kittle
Ron Kittle
Ronald Dale Kittle is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who was known mostly for his home run power, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year...
and backup catcher Joel Skinner
Joel Skinner
Joel Patrick Skinner is a former Major League Baseball catcher and former third base coach of the Cleveland Indians. Skinner was dismissed effective with the end of the 2009 season on September 30, 2009. He is the son of Bob Skinner, a National League outfielder in the 1950s and '60s...
, acquiring first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
/third baseman Carlos Martínez and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
s Ron Hassey
Ron Hassey
Ronald William Hassey is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. Hassey began his career with the Cleveland Indians after the Indians drafted him in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft...
and Bill Lindsey
Bill Lindsey
William Donald Lindsey is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. He played during one season at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in...
. Tolleson spent the rest of his career as a reserve for the Yankees, retiring in .
Personal life
Wayne and his wife Kimberly have two sons, StevenSteven Tolleson
Steven Wayne Tolleson is a major league Infielder for the Baltimore Orioles organization. He is the son of former Major leaguer Wayne Tolleson....
and Clint. Steven is currently an infielder in the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
system and was recently called up by the A's. Wayne's father, Jim played seven seasons in the minor leagues for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and his brother, Michael, played two seasons in the Indians organization.