Billy Clingman
From BR Bullpen
William Frederick Clingman
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 150 lb.
- Debut September 9, 1890
- Final Game July 16, 1903
- Born November 21, 1869 in Cincinnati, OH USA
- Died May 14, 1958 in Cincinnati, OH USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"There is but one man in the business who can fill Billy's shoes, and that is Jimmy Collins." - Honus Wagner, talking about Billy Clingman's ability at third base in 1898
Billy Clingman was a defensive star who played ten seasons in the big leagues.
Clingman, a Cincinnati boy, came up originally with the 1890 Cincinnati Reds, and then moved to the 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers for one game. He didn't come back to the majors until 1895.
The bulk of his career was with the Louisville Colonels from 1896-99. Fred Clarke was a young player on the team, and Honus Wagner came up in 1897.
In 1901 he moved to the nascent American League, where he played in 1901 and 1903. In 1902 he played in Milwaukee and managed the Brewers for the first part of the season.
In 1904-06 he played for the Toledo Mud Hens and finished the 1904 season as the team's third manager that year.
After his baseball career ended, he entered the printing business in Louisville and owned the Clingman Engraving Company until his retirement in 1947.
The book "Honus: The Life and Times of a Baseball Hero" indicates that Clingman suffered a hand injury in 1897.
