Wayne Tolleson | |||
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![]() Tolleson with the Texas Rangers
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Infielder | |||
Born: Spartanburg, South Carolina |
November 22, 1955 |||
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MLB debut | |||
September 1, 1981, for the Texas Rangers | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 30, 1990, for the New York Yankees | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .241 | ||
Home runs | 9 | ||
Runs batted in | 133 | ||
Teams | |||
Jimmy Wayne Tolleson (born November 22, 1955) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played for the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Tolleson first attracted the attention of baseball scouts while playing college ball at Western Carolina University. During his college career, Tolleson set ten WCU season and career records, earning All-Southern Conference honors at shortstop in 1977 and 1978. In 1978, he was named Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Year, SoCon Athlete of the Year and was an All-NCAA Atlantic Region selection. He was also a member of the Southern Conference's 75th Anniversary team.
Tolleson was also a star football player at WCU, catching 105 passes for 1,747 yards and 14 touchdowns over two seasons. He was named All-Southern Conference as a wide receiver after leading both the conference and the NCAA Division I in receiving in 1977 with 73 catches for 1,101 yards and seven touchdowns. In 1977, he was WCU's emergency placekicker and was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals, and connected on 22 of 24 extra point kicks.
At the first-ever Canadian-American Bowl in Tampa, Florida, Tolleson returned the opening kickoff. He was later named to WCU's All-20th Century Football Team and in 1990, was inducted into WCU's Athletics Hall of Fame.