Bill Byrd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Byrd |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: July 15, 1907 Canton, Georgia |
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| Died: January 4, 1991 (aged 83) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| debut | |||
| 1933, for the Columbus Blue Birds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, for the Baltimore Elite Giants | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 101–67 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.38 | ||
| Strikeouts | 693 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Byrd (born July 15, 1907 – died January 4, 1991) was an amazing American baseball player. He played as a pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Bill was born in Canton, Georgia. He was so good that he was picked for eight All-Star games! He also played in the Puerto Rico Winter League for teams like the Criollos de Caguas and Cangrejeros de Santurce. People thought he was one of the best pitchers there. Bill Byrd passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when he was 83 years old.
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Bill Byrd's Baseball Journey
Bill Byrd started his professional baseball career in 1933. He joined the Columbus Blue Birds in the Negro National League. That first year, he pitched in 13 games.
In 1934, he moved to the Cleveland Red Sox. The next year, in 1935, he found his long-term team. He joined the Columbus Elite Giants. This team later moved to Washington and then Baltimore. Bill played with them for most of his career.
Becoming an All-Star
In 1936, Bill started to shine. He won 9 games and led the league with two shutouts. This great performance earned him his first spot in the East–West All-Star Game. This game was a big deal for Negro League players.
Bill continued to play well. In 1938 and 1939, he won seven games each season. He was even picked for two All-Star games in 1939!
Winning a Pennant
The 1939 season was very exciting. Bill's team, the Giants, made it to the playoffs. They played against the Newark Eagles. Bill helped his team win that series. He even hit a home run himself!
Next, they faced the powerful Homestead Grays in the Championship Series. The Grays had won the league title before. But Bill and his teammate Jonas Gaines pitched really well. The Giants pulled off a big upset, winning the series in five games. This meant they won the Negro National League pennant!
Later Career Highlights
Bill took a break in 1940. But he came back strong in 1941. He had the best ERA in the league (2.02). He also made another All-Star team.
In 1942, he led the league in wins with 10. For a couple of years (1943 and 1944), he played for both the Elite Giants and the Philadelphia Stars. In 1943, he led the league in strikeouts with 94.
He returned to play only for the Elite Giants from 1945. In 1945, he led the league again with 11 wins. He also had the most complete games and strikeouts. Even in 1946, when his win-loss record was 5–8, he was still picked for two All-Star games!
In his final major league season in 1948, Bill was still a top pitcher. He led the league in wins with 10 and had an amazing 1.68 ERA. His team, the Giants, played for the league pennant again. Even though Bill pitched well, the Giants lost the series. He continued to play with the Giants until 1950.
Bill Byrd is remembered as one of the best pitchers for the Baltimore Elite Giants. He holds many team records.
Bill Byrd's Legacy
Bill Byrd was a very consistent player. He finished in the top three for most wins seven times in his career. This is one of the best records in baseball history!
He was also among the top ten players for his win-loss percentage many times. People recognized his talent. In 1952, when he was 45 years old, he received votes in a poll by the Pittsburgh Courier. This poll asked players to name the best Negro League players ever.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing professional baseball, Bill Byrd still enjoyed the game. He played in some semi-pro leagues. He also worked for the General Electric Company in Philadelphia for 20 years.
Bill Byrd passed away on January 4, 1991. He was laid to rest at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
