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 streakÂing 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 WednesÂday night during a Redsâ basÂketball 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 AnderÂson, reached at his home in CalÂifornia. said. âItâs a dying shame. This is a jolt, I know how the players feel about this. Theyâre sick about it.
âWe canât lose that much bat I Iâll just have to juggle around and compensate somewhat.â
Besides the impressive figure in stolen basesâ57, Bobby Tolan hatted .31 ft in 1970 and rapped 34 douÂbles, 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 outÂfielder Vada Pinson.
Bobby Tolanâs injury Is similar to that which sidelined former CinÂcinnati pitching ace Jim MaloÂney much of the 1970 season. ToÂlanâ* will remain in a cast up to his waist for four weeks Tnen a shorter âwalking castâ will be put on for another four I
Anderson said that the possiÂbility of a player getting hurt in a basketball game is âthe reaÂson I couldnât give my okay to the team. I feel the worst for Bobby.â
The team has nine contests left on its schedule hut general manager Bob Howsam said. âI donât know if theyâll continue playing. I just canât say I road an article earlier in the winter where I said I was against the team. It made a lot more sense