Kid Butler (butleki02)

From BR Bullpen

Willis Everett Butler

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 11", Weight 155 lb.

Debut April 30, 1907
Final Game August 2, 1907
Born August 9, 1887 in Franklin, PA USA
Died February 22, 1964 in Richmond, CA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Kid Butler was an infielder 18 years (1906-1923), with only 20 games in the Majors in 1907. He was born on Tuesday, August 9, 1887, in Franklin, PA. He was 18 years old when he broke into Organized Baseball with Akron in the Ohio-Pennsylvania League in 1906. Butler was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 30, 1907, with the St. Louis Browns for a cup of coffee that ended on August 2, 1907 at age 19, only one week before his 20th birthday.

He played in the minors with Nashville in the Southern Association (1908-1909) and the Toledo Mud Hens in the American Association (1910) and others until serving as a Corporal for the U.S. Army during World War I (CM).

He returned to the minors and wound it up playng with London in the Michigan-Ontario League (1922) and the Jersey City Giants in the International League (1923), ending his baseball playing career at age 36.

He was a part-time scout for several teams and retired as the assistant manager of the Richmond, CA housing authority. Scouting for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians (1924-1947), he discovered and/or signed players such as Harry Chozen, Harlond Clift, Ray Coleman, Harry Malmberg, Mel Mazzera, Larry Bettencourt, Len Dondero, Chuck Stevens and Mike Garcia. He died at age 76 in a VA Hospital in Richmond, CA on May 26, 1964 and is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, CA, Plot: 2D 738.