Wayne Tolleson was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for nine seasons. He was primarily a middle infielder, playing both second base and shortstop. Tolleson was known for his speed and defensive abilities, but was not a strong hitter.
Tolleson was born on September 22, 1955 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He attended Western Carolina University, where he played college baseball. In 1978, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the MLB draft.
Tolleson made his Major League debut with the Rangers in 1981. He played in 97 games that season, primarily as a second baseman. He hit .244 with 1 home run and 23 RBI. Tolleson's best season came in 1984, when he hit .289 with 2 home runs and 38 RBI in 127 games. He also stole 21 bases that season.
In 1986, Tolleson was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He played two seasons with the White Sox, primarily as a utility infielder. He hit .246 with 1 home run and 26 RBI in 1986, and .254 with 1 home run and 17 RBI in 1987.
Tolleson finished his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He played two seasons with the Orioles, primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. He hit .214 with 1 home run and 8 RBI in 1989, and .167 with 0 home runs and 2 RBI in 1990.
Overall, Tolleson played in 930 Major League games. He hit .241 with 6 home runs and 139 RBI. He stole 98 bases and was caught stealing 36 times. Tolleson was known for his speed and defensive abilities, and was a valuable utility player throughout his career.
After retiring from baseball, Tolleson worked as a coach and instructor. He served as a minor league coach for the Rangers and the Orioles, and also worked as a hitting instructor for the White Sox. Tolleson was inducted into the Western Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
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