Police Officer Daniel Gene Walters

The last time I saw a Pittsburgh Pirates game at 3 Rivers Stadium was a doubleheader between the Pirates and Padres, on 8/29/93. Sadly, Brad Ausmus (who would later have a long MLB career as a catcher & manager) caught the first game (a Pirates win, 7-4), and in the nightcap, (won by the Padres, 11-0) Kevin Higgins was the catcher. Actually I saw some of Dan in action on TV & radio. Dan's 1st MLB home run was on 6/9/92 vs. the Astros at the Murph, he had 2 hits & 3 RBI. Officer Walters also had 2 RBI nights on 6/15/92 at the Astros, and 6/23/92 vs. the Dodgers. Dan's MLB debut was on 6/1/92 vs. the Cubs, where he went 0-for-3. Chicago won 6-1 at Wrigley Field. Dan also had 3 RBI against the Astros at the Q on 9/24/92. Exactly 1 week after hitting his 1st MLB homer, against the Astros at the 'Dome, Dan stole 2nd base (it's stupid to steal items, you'll be caught by the police, but it's legal to steal second base)! Dan's last MLB homer was against the Pirates on 4/13/93, and his final MLB game was against (you guessed it) the Astros on 5/23/93...Dan was 2-4 with an RBI (but Houston won, 9-7. Officer Dan's last at-bat was a strikeout, sadly.) Here's the info on Dan's last MLB game: https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B05230SDN1993.htm
And here's the boxscore for Dan's 1st MLB HR: https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1992/B06090SDN1992.htm
As a Padres fan from Pittsburgh, I've seen a lot of highs and lows for this franchise, and Dan now joins the many legends us Friar Faithful will remember forever. I hope the Padres ownership took some time to honor Officer Dan Walters. And I hope Peter Seidler and Ron Fowler can induct Dan into the Padres Hall of Fame, because he served San Diego well as a police officer, and he love for San Diego began with playing for the Padres. Thanks for making me a Padres fan, and thank you for your service. Go Padres! Go San Diego Police!

Mr. Fred Benson

October 13, 2021