Year Inducted – 1998

He first put on the “tools of ignorance” at age nine and one year later was in the Class C League with Fairlawn AC. His teams for the next five years were recognized as one of the best in Class C and D, winning a number of championships during that span. From National A.C., Bill spent 1938 and 1939 as a bullpen catcher with the Montreal Royals and Albany Senators. He missed a shot at a contract with Springfield of the Eastern League in 1940 because of a hand injury and stayed home to join A champion Sohio A.C. The 1941 Sohio A.C. team was pegged a St. Louis Cardinal Gashouse type team that traveled the midwest, won the A title and the A-B title. Bill had his most productive year that season, hitting at a .345 clip and made the All-Star team. After a stint in the Army, Bill returned home for some action with Maple Valley and then began a successful career with the Akron Beacon Journal.