Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Jimmy Wynn was one of baseball’s most feared sluggers of the 1960s and early 1970s. Playing for the Houston Astros, however, muzzled just how powerful a hitter he was. Wynn and the Astros called the Houston Astrodome home, and it was by far one of the most difficult stadiums in baseball history to launch home runs in. Yet, Wynn, still put up remarkable numbers. In fact, Wynn produced nearly all of the power the Astros possessed. In 1967 he walloped 37 homeruns, while the rest of the Astros managed to hit just 56. In 1968 he hit 26 homeruns, while the rest of the team hit just 40; and in 1969, Wynn hit another 33 homeruns while the rest of his teammates hit 71. Wynn’s relationship with the team and manager Harry Walker was not exactly great. In fact, despite Wynn’s power, Walker tried to change Wynn’s approach at the plate which would have reduced his power and made him into more of a line drive and opposite field hitter. Wynn fought back and never acquiesced. Of course, this put a strain on the whole team and