Jimmy Wynn, R.I.P.

Former MLB outfielder Jimmy Wynn who spent the bulk of his 15 year career with the Houston Colt 45's/Astros has passed away. He turned 78 only two weeks ago.

Wynn, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, originally signed with his hometown Reds in 1961. However, Wynn would be selected by the Colt 45's in their expansion draft in 1962. Wynn would make his MLB debut with the Colt 45's in 1963 and would become an everyday player when the team moved to the Astrodome in 1965. Despite Wynn's diminutive 5,10 160 pound stature, he possessed enormous power. Wynn earned the nickname "The Toy Cannon" for his prodigious power. Between 1965 and 1973, Wynn hit 20 or more HRs for the Astros seven times including a career best 37 HR in 1967 when he earned his only All-Star selection in an Astros uniform.

Prior to the 1974 season, the Astros traded Wynn to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Claude Osteen. Wynn's 32 HRs led the team and he knocked in a career high 108 RBI en route to a NL pennant and his only World Series appearance. Wynn finished fifth in NL MVP balloting which was won by teammate Steve Garvey. While Wynn only spent two seasons in Los Angeles, he was selected to the NL All Star Team both years.

After the 1975 season, the Dodgers traded Wynn along with Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek and Jerry Royster to the Atlanta Braves for Dusty Baker and Ed Goodson. Although Wynn only hit .207, he did have an OBP of .377 as he led the NL with 127 walks. Wynn finished his playing career in 1977 splitting the season between the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers. In 15 seasons, Wynn collected 1665 hits for a lifetime batting average of .250 with 291 HR, 964 RBI, 225 stolen bases along with 1224 walks. Wynn walked 100 or more times in a season six times in his career finishing with a .366 OBP. However, Wynn failed to collect a single vote in his only year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot in 1983. In 2019, the Astros inducted Wynn in the inaugural class of their team Hall of Fame.

I leave you with Wynn hitting a tape measure shot at Crosley Field in his breakout season of 1967 perhaps giving the Reds regret in giving up on what could have been a hometown hero. R.I.P.