On January 7, 1971, Cincinnati Reds star Bobby Tolan ruptures his Achilles tendon while playing basketball. Tolan will miss the entire season and will never regain the form that he displayed in 1970, when he batted .316 and stole a league-leading 57 bases.
Bobby Tolan will not be streaking along the paths until June 1 at the earliest. The centerfielder. who helped the Reds to the National League pennant, ruptured the achiles tendon in his right leg Wednesday night during a Reds’ basketball game in Frankfort, Ky., and underwent surgery here Thursday at Christ Hospital. The operation was termed a success, but he will be out until at least June 1. Manager Sparky Anderson, reached at his home in California. said. “It’s a dying shame. This is a jolt, I know how the players feel about this. They’re sick about it.
“We can’t lose that much bat I I’ll just have to juggle around and compensate somewhat.”
Besides the impressive figure in stolen bases—57, Bobby Tolan hatted .31 ft in 1970 and rapped 34 doubles, six triples and 16 home runs. He hit .305 in 1969 after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade in which the Reds gave up outfielder Vada Pinson.
Bobby Tolan’s injury Is similar to that which sidelined former Cincinnati pitching ace Jim Maloney much of the 1970 season. Tolan’* will remain in a cast up to his waist for four weeks Tnen a shorter “walking cast” will be put on for another four I
Anderson said that the possibility of a player getting hurt in a basketball game is “the reason I couldn’t give my okay to the team. I feel the worst for Bobby.”
The team has nine contests left on its schedule hut general manager Bob Howsam said. “I don’t know if they’ll continue playing. I just can’t say I road an article earlier in the winter where I said I was against the team. It made a lot more sense
