Walter Ray Matthews (October 19, 1934 – April 28, 2014) was a baseball figure who spent 51 years in the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...

organization—at the time, a club record. Matthews was born in

Ashdown, Arkansas Ashdown (formerly Turkey Flats and Keller) is a city in Little River County, Arkansas, Little River County, Arkansas, United States. The community was incorporated in 1892 and has been the county seat since 1906. Located within the Arkansas Timb ...

. A first baseman and outfielder, he began his professional career in the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...

organization in 1956 and remained in their system through 1959. He played for the Triple-A

Omaha Cardinals The Omaha Cardinals were a minor league baseball team based in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1947 through 1959. They played in the Class A Western League (1900–1958), Western League through 1954 and in the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A American Associat ...

in 1959. He joined the

Milwaukee Braves The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966 they were rename ...

system in 1960 (and played briefly at Triple-A again) before signing on with the Jacksonville Jets of the Houston Colt .45s system in 1961. He remained in the Colt .45s/Astros system through 1967—mostly playing at Single A ball—hitting 30 home runs for the

Durham Bulls The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened ...

in 1963 (then a club record. In 1966, he managed the Salisbury Astros; in 1967, he skippered the

Cocoa Astros The Cocoa Astros were a professional minor league baseball team in the Florida State League (FSL), as a Class A level affiliate with the Houston Astros from 1965–72 and 1977. The team played at the Astros' spring training facility. The first ...

. His playing career ended after 1967. Overall, he batted .272 with 137 home runs a 1,134 hits in 1,230 games. Following his playing and manager career, he became a scout for Houston, signing numerous players including Bill Doran, Johnny Ray and Robbie Wine. He retired in 2012.Astros to Honor Memory of Walt Matthews Tonight
/ref> He died on April 28, 2014, in Ashdown, Arkansas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Walt 1934 births 2014 deaths