Wally Berger, an outfielder for the Boston...

Wally Berger, an outfielder for the Boston Braves during the 1930s and later with several other major league teams, and holder of the rookie home-run record that stood for more than a half-century, died Wednesday in Redondo Beach after suffering a stroke. He was 83.

Berger’s record of 38 home runs by a rookie, set in 1930, was not surpassed until 1987, when Oakland’s Mark McGwire hit 49. Frank Robinson had tied Berger’s mark in 1956 with the Cincinnati Reds.