Cuckoo Christensen

Walter Niels Christensen
(Seacap)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 6½", Weight 156 lb.

• Debut April 13, 1926
• Final Game August 4, 1927
• Born October 24, 1899 in San Francisco, CA USA
• Died December 20, 1984 in Menlo Park, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Cuckoo Christensen was a big success in 1926 in the major leagues. Playing 114 games all around the outfield for the Cincinnati Reds, he batted a strong .350/.426/.438. The .350 average was second in the NL and the OBP tops, had he had enough at bats to qualify. He had 22 extra base hits, none of which were home runs (15 doubles and 7 triples). The next season, he slumped to a .254/.330/.286 line with only two extra base hits in 57 games, never to return.

He did enjoy a solid minor league career, from at least 1921-1933. Before coming to the Reds, Christensen had spent four seasons with the St. Paul Saints, leading the league in runs scored one season and leading the league in stolen bases another season. Teammates included Chuck Dressen and Tom Sheehan. After his major league days he spent years in the American Association and in the Pacific Coast League. He later was an umpire who worked college and semipro games, sometimes filling in with the Pacific Coast League

Christensen was nicknamed "seacap" or "cuckoo christy". He liked to get attention by doing things like somersaults before he caught fly balls.

One source: 1923 St. Paul Saints.

Notable Achievements

• NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1926)