Billy Consolo
From BR Bullpen
William Angelo Consolo
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
- High School Dorsey High School
- Debut April 20, 1953
- Final Game September 30, 1962
- Born August 18, 1934 in Cleveland, OH USA
- Died March 27, 2008 in Westlake Village, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Billy Consolo made his major league debut at the age of 18 in 1953. He would play 10 seasons in the majors, never getting as many as 250 at-bats in one season. He played 317 games at shortstop, 101 at second base, and 61 at third base.
Consolo hit only .221 lifetime in the majors but drew walks well, with a .315 on base percentage.
He was the 1954 Red Sox Opening Day second baseman and leadoff hitter.
After his playing days, Consolo was a Detroit Tigers coach from 1979 to 1992 and again in 1995.
Consolo was a boyhood friend of Sparky Anderson. He was a baseball and track star at Dorsey High School and was named Los Angeles city player of the year in 1951 and 1952. Anderson and Bill Lachemann (brother of Rene and Marcel) were teammates at Dorsey and also on a national-champion American Legion Baseball team. He came straight to the majors as one of the early bonus babies. In the 1960's after his playing days he became a barber. Source: L.A. Times obituary.
