Walters made his major league debut with the Phillies in 1934 and quickly established himself as a reliable pitcher. He had a breakout season in 1937, winning 14 games and leading the league in strikeouts. He continued to pitch well for the Phillies over the next few seasons, earning All-Star honors in 1938 and 1939.
In 1940, Walters was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he had the best season of his career. He won 22 games, led the league in ERA, and was named the National League Most Valuable Player. He also helped lead the Reds to a World Series championship that year, pitching a complete game in Game 2 of the series.
Walters continued to pitch well for the Reds over the next few seasons, earning All-Star honors in 1941 and 1942. He missed the 1943 season due to military service during World War II, but returned to the Reds in 1944 and pitched well for the next few seasons.
In 1948, Walters was traded to the Boston Braves, where he pitched for two seasons before retiring in 1950. He finished his career with a record of 198-160, a 3.30 ERA, and 1,356 strikeouts. He also hit 21 home runs as a pitcher, which was a record at the time.
Walters was known for his control and his ability to pitch deep into games. He led the league in complete games four times and had a career walk rate of just 2.2 per nine innings. He was also a good hitter for a pitcher, finishing his career with a .243 batting average and 94 RBIs.
After retiring from baseball, Walters worked as a scout for the Reds and later as a coach for the Braves. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1958 and the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. He passed away on April 20, 1991, in Abington, Pennsylvania, at the age of 82.
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