Walter A. Blair (1988) - Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame

Walter A. Blair

Induction:
1988
Class:
1907

Walt Blair was one of several outstanding baseball players at Bucknell shortly after the turn of the century, and he joins his son-in-law, Jay P. Mathias, in the Hall of Fame. Considered an outstanding defensive catcher, Blair was a member of the Class of 1907 and played professional baseball for over a decade. He began his career with Williamsport of the Tri-State League (1905-07); was with the New York Highlanders, the forerunner of the Yankees, on and off from 1908-11; played in the minor leagues with Newark (N.J.), Rochester (where he broke league catching records) and Jersey City; was player-manager of the Buffalo Bisons in the Federal League in 1914-15; and was part-owner and player-manager of the Harrisburg team in the New York State League in 1916. Blair later served as baseball coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 1917; was coach at Bucknell in 1910, 1920 and 1926-27; and was active in the fund-raising and construction plans for Bucknell's Memorial Stadium and for the Bucknell Golf Course. Blair was a native of Arnot, Pa., and attended Wellsboro High School.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1987)