bobby tolan

Los Angeles, California Batted: Left Threw: Left MLB debut September 3, 1965 for the St. Louis Cardinals Last MLB appearance September 19, 1979 for the San Diego Padres Career statistics Batting average .265 Home runs 86 Runs batted in 497 Teams St. Louis Cardinals (1965-1968) Cincinnati Reds (1969-1973) San Diego Padres (1974-1975) Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1977) Pittsburgh Pirates(1977) Nankai Hawks (1978) San Diego Padres (1979) Career highlights and awards World Series champion (1967) 1972 Hutch Award 1972 NL Comeback Player of the Year

Robert Tolan (born November 19, 1945 in Los Angeles, California) is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1965-68), Cincinnati Reds (1969-73), San Diego Padres (1974-75, 1979), Philadelphia Phillies (1976-77) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1977). He also played one season in Japan for the Nankai Hawks (1978). Contents [hide] 1 Career 2 Personal Life 3 See also 4 References 5 External links //

Career

Tolan was a reserve outfielder during his years with the Cardinals, with whom he won a World Series title in 1967. He also played on the 1968 National League champions; however, the red birds lost to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series in seven games, after leading three games to one. The day after the final game of this Series Tolan was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran outfielder Vada Pinson.

Batting second behind Pete Rose in the Reds lineup, Tolan in 1969 hit .309 and established career highs in home runs and runs batted in (21 and 93 respectively). In this, the first year both leagues were split into two divisions, the Reds finished third in the National League West, four games behind the division-winning Atlanta Braves. The "Big Red Machine," which also featured future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Tony Perez (and would later feature a third, Joe Morgan), was just beginning to take shape.

In 1970, Tolan batted a career high .316 with 16 home runs and 80 RBIs, and led the National League in stolen bases with 57 (the only time former Cardinal teammate Lou Brock did not lead the National League in steals between 1966 and 1974) for a Reds team that won the National League West title for their first postseason berth since the 1961 World Series. The Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS in three games; in the second game, Tolan scored all three runs in a 3-1 victory, including a fifth-inning home run off starter Luke Walker. However, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Reds in the World Series in five games. Tolan went 4-for-19 in the Series, including a home run off Mike Cuellar in Game Two.

Tolan missed the 1971 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon playing basketball. He came back in 1972, winning both the Comeback Player of the Year award and the Hutch Award after batting .283 with 82 RBIs and 42 stolen