Bill Henry (baseball, born 1927) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Henry |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 15, 1927 Alice, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: April 11, 2014 (aged 86) Round Rock, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 17, 1952, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 16, 1969, for the Houston Astros | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 46–50 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.26 | ||
| Strikeouts | 621 | ||
| Saves | 90 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Rodman Henry (October 15, 1927 – April 11, 2014) was a talented American baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Bill played for several teams between 1952 and 1969. These teams included the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. His teammates called him "Gabby" because he was very quiet.
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Who Was Bill Henry?
Bill Henry was born in Alice, Texas. He loved baseball from a young age. He played college baseball for the Houston Cougars. Bill was the first player from the University of Houston to reach the Major Leagues. This was a big achievement for his college.
Starting His Baseball Journey
Bill Henry began his professional career with the Boston Red Sox. He joined them in 1952. At first, he was mostly a starting pitcher. This means he would begin the game on the mound. He would pitch for many innings.
Becoming a Relief Pitcher
After a couple of years away from the Major Leagues, Bill returned in 1958. He joined the Chicago Cubs. This time, he became a relief pitcher. A relief pitcher comes into the game after the starter. They usually pitch for fewer innings. Bill only started two more games in his entire career after this change.
Key Moments in His Career
As a relief pitcher, Bill Henry was very good at getting saves. A save happens when a pitcher finishes a close game. They help their team win. Bill had 90 saves during his career.
He was chosen to play in the 1960 All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players from different teams play together. Bill also pitched in the 1961 World Series with the Cincinnati Reds. The World Series is the championship series in baseball.
Later Years and Retirement
Bill Henry finished his Major League career with the Houston Astros. He played his last game in June 1969. He was a respected player throughout his time in baseball.
A Surprising Story
In 2007, news stories wrongly reported that Bill Henry had passed away. This was a mistake. Someone else had used his identity. A baseball historian contacted Bill to tell him about the false report. Bill Henry was still alive and living in Texas. His unique story even appeared in Sports Illustrated magazine.
Bill Henry sadly passed away on April 11, 2014. He was 86 years old. He died from heart problems in Round Rock, Texas.
