19. Dixie Walker

In 1939, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Dixie Walker as a waiver-wire reclamation project, a player whose early promise in the Yankees' organization had been sidetracked by recurring injuries. Once touted as the heir to Babe Ruth in the Bronx, he had bounced around from Detroit to Chicago before finding his footing at Ebbets Field, and boy, did he find his footing!

Following a strong debut in 1939, Walker showed a remarkable talent for spotting gaps, batting .308 in 1940 and .311 in 1941. He quickly established himself as a key player, finishing in the top ten of MVP voting two years in a row and contributing to the Dodgers’ 1941 pennant win.  Brooklyn did not win the World Series, but without Walker, they would have never made it there.

During the wartime period, Walker enjoyed a prolific streak of performance that few league players could rival. In 1944, he demonstrated exceptional hitting skill by winning the National League Batting Title with a .357 average, surpassing even the legendary Stan Musial. In 1945, he continued to excel by leading the league with 124 RBIs, establishing himself as a clutch run producer capable of carrying the team’s offense. Despite the return of the league's biggest stars in 1946, Walker remained a top-tier player, finishing second in MVP voting after batting .319 with 116 RBIs.

Walker maintained a batting average above .300 in seven out of his eight full seasons with the Dodgers. While not a power hitter by specialization, he demonstrated consistent efficiency, accumulating over 1,200 hits with the team. His tenure ended amidst controversy in spring 1947 when the Georgia native wrote a letter to management requesting a trade as the Dodgers prepared to integrate. Despite remaining professional, batting .306 and driving in 94 runs to help the team reach the World Series, his outspoken opposition to the new era in baseball made his departure inevitable.

Walker was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1947 season.  As a Dodger, Walker accumulated 1,295 hits, a .311 average, and the 1944 Batting Title.