THIS BAT was used by Pirate catcher Toby Atwell in a June 1954 series at Busch Stadium in which he went 2 for 4 in an 8-5 win over the Cardinals in the first game. Atwell hit a respectable .289 in 1954, a year in which the Bucs won only 53 games and finished last in the National League.

TOBY ATWELL

ALL-STAR: 1952

Atwell played for Cubs, Pirates and Braves during ML career

Was traded to the Pirates as part of a deal that brought Ralph Kiner to the Cubs

MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR

TOBY ATWELL WEB LINKS

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Toby Atwell began his Major League baseball career on April 15, 1952 with the Chicago Cubs. The 28 year-old catcher played for five seasons for the Cubs, Pirates and Braves — and ended his big league playing career in 1956.

The Army Air Corps veteran almost saw his career come to an end when he hurt his knee sliding while playing in the minor leagues for Montreal in 1949.

Atwell played with the Cubs, Pirates and Braves and his best year was his rookie season, 1952, in which he hit .290 in 107 games and was selected for the National League All-star team.

Early in the 1953 season, he was traded to the Pirates as part of a deal that brought Ralph Kiner to the Cubs. He finished his career with a .260 lifetime average.

Atwell died on January 25, 2003 in Purceville, Virginia at the age of 78.

TOBY ATWELL: Did you know...

...Football was Atwell’s first love. He was a three-sport man in high school — lettering four years in football, three in basketball and five in baseball (played varsity his 8th grade year). He also played QB for one year at VPI.

...There was no love lost between Atwell and the Brooklyn front office. He was Brooklyn property when the Cubs made an initial offer and were turned down. Atwell held it against the Dodger brass and believed that they stymied his career and that he might have been in the Major Leagues a year earlier than 52.

...In 1953, Chicago traded Atwell, Bob Schultz, Preston Ward, George Freese, Bob Addis, Gene Hermanski and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Ralph Kiner, Joe Garagiola, Howie Pollt and Catfish Metkovich.

...In April 1954, during a slugfest featuring back-to-back homers three times, the Reds edged the Pirates, 8–7. Ted Kluszewski banged a pair of 2-run homers, both off cousin Max Surkont. Jim Greengrass followed Klu's first homer with one of his own. Toby Atwell and Jerry Lynch hit back-to-back round-trippers in both the 6th and 8th innings for the Pirates — the only Pirates to accomplish the feat in the 20th century. Corky Valentine, with relief help from Smith, gains his first Major League victory.

...Atwell last appeared in the major leagues with Milwaukee in 1956.

...Atwell was born March 8, 1924 in Leesburg, Virginia. He died January 25, 2003 in Purcellville, Virginia at the age of 78.

ATWELL WAS TRADED in June 1954 by the Chicago Cubs with Bob Addis, George Freese, Gene Hermanski, Bob Schultz, Preston Ward, and $150,000 cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Ralph Kiner, Joe Garagiola, Howie Pollet, and Catfish Metkovich.