Bill Connelly
From BR Bullpen
William Wirt Connelly (Wild Bill)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
- Debut August 22, 1945
- Final Game June 16, 1953
- Born June 29, 1925 in Alberta, VA USA
- Died November 27, 1980 in Richmond, VA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Before the 1945 season Bill Connelly a right-hander with good stuff, but lacking in control, was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Athletics. "Wild Bill" made his debut in pro ball in the majors going 1-1 in two games for the Athletics in 1945.
Bill would then spend a few years in the minors with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Savannah Indians and the Buffalo Bisons before being dealt to the Detroit Tigers in an unknown transaction before the 1949 season. He would spend 1949 with the Toledo Mud Hens and would be drafted by the Chicago White Sox on November 17, in the 1949 rule V draft. On May 15, 1950 the White Sox would return him to the Tigers.
In 1950 he would make a couple of appearances each with the White Sox and the Tigers with no decisions. It would be back to the minors with the Little Rock Travelers and the Toledo Mud Hens But "Wild Bill" would be back up in 1952 after the New York Giants plucked him from the minors and he won all five of his decisions. But after a handful of games in 1953 he was gone from the major leagues with a lifetime record of 6-2 in 25 games.
Connelly would pitch in the high minors through 1957, making the Texas League his last stop before retiring after 13 active seasons in pro baseball. "Wild Bill's" minor league career stats showed he appeared in 309 games, winning 79 and losing 92 while pitching in 1,466 innings, allowing 1,428 base hits and 1,088 base on balls for a 5.07 ERA.
Connelly was employed with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in Richmond, VA, where he died November 27, 1980, at age 55.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
