| Fred Walters | |
| Position: | Catcher |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 4 September 1912 |
| Birth Place: | Laurel, Mississippi |
| Death Place: | Laurel, Mississippi |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 17 |
| Debutyear: | 1945 |
| Debutteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | August 9 |
| Finalyear: | 1945 |
| Finalteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .172 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 5 |
| Teams: | |
Fred James Walters (September 4, 1912 – February 1, 1980) was a backup catcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 6feet and —and nicknamed "Whale"—Walters batted and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Red Sox in 1937 out of Mississippi State University.
A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Walters was one of many players who only appeared in the majors during World War II. He was a .172 hitter (16-for-93) with two runs, two doubles, one stolen base, and five RBI without home runs in 40 games. In 38 catching appearances he posted a .993 fielding percentage (one error in 144 chances). His professional playing career extended for 11 seasons (1938–42; 1944–49). In June 1946, he abruptly became the player-manager of the Triple-A Louisville Colonels during the six-week suspension of skipper Nemo Leibold and led the squad to a sparkling 34–12 record.[1] The following season, he piloted the Double-A Birmingham Barons to the Southern Association championship.
Walters left baseball after the 1950 season, which he spent as manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts, eventually became a sheriff in Mississippi,.[1] and died in his hometown of Laurel at the age of 67.