Best Cincinnati Reds Ever: Bucky Walters v. John Franco

First Round Matchup | No. 7 Bucky Walters v. No. 10 John Franco

Walters:

Bucky Walters broke into the Major League baseball as a terrible thrid baseman then converted to being an underwhelming, mediocre starting pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies. But a midseason trade to the Cincinnati Reds in 1938 changed his career trajectory.

He was a 20-game winner thrice — and added a 19-win season — led the league in ERA twice, hits allowed thrice, complete games thrice and eclipsed 300 innings pitched in three consecutive seasons — all were league-highs. He was a five-time All-Star in a six-season span and won an MVP in 1939 — a season in which he won the pitching Triple Crown — when he won 27…