Bill Davis (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Willard Davis is an American
former Major League Baseball
first baseman
who played for the Cleveland Indians
from to and the San Diego Padres
in .
The 6 inch, 215 lb (97.5 kg) Davis batted and threw left-handed
, and signed with Cleveland after starring in baseball
and basketball
at the University of Minnesota
. He began his baseball career in the Double-A Eastern League in 1964, and in his sophomore season he hit 33 home runs, batted
.311 and drove in 106 runs for the Triple-A Portland Beavers
in 1965. Recalled by Cleveland in September, he made ten appearances as a pinch hitter
and counted a double
among his three hits
. He began and ended 1966 with the Indians, but spent most of the year in Portland. In 38 MLB at bats, Davis made only six hits, but one was his first (and only) Major League home run, against veteran Jack Sanford
of the California Angels
as a pinch hitter on September 9.
Davis then spent the entire season on the disabled list
after he ruptured his Achilles tendon
while playing a pick-up basketball game in January. He would never play another game for the Indians, but after his third stint with Triple-A Portland in 1968, he was traded to the newly-established Padres. He was the starting first baseman in the first official National League
game ever played by the Padres on April 8, 1969, and went hitless in three at bats against the Houston Astros
. He started ten more games in April, but did not hit enough to hold the regular job, and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
in May. The Cardinals immediately sent him to Triple-A, where he spent the rest of the 1969 season, his last in baseball. He then returned to his hometown of Richfield, Minnesota
, where he worked in real estate and banking.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who played for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
from to and the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in .
The 6 inch, 215 lb (97.5 kg) Davis batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, and signed with Cleveland after starring in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He began his baseball career in the Double-A Eastern League in 1964, and in his sophomore season he hit 33 home runs, batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.311 and drove in 106 runs for the Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
in 1965. Recalled by Cleveland in September, he made ten appearances as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
and counted a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
among his three hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. He began and ended 1966 with the Indians, but spent most of the year in Portland. In 38 MLB at bats, Davis made only six hits, but one was his first (and only) Major League home run, against veteran Jack Sanford
Jack Sanford
John Stanley Sanford was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, and later in his career a relief pitcher as well, for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and California Angels. He finished his career playing very briefly with the Kansas City...
of the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
as a pinch hitter on September 9.
Davis then spent the entire season on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
after he ruptured his Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
while playing a pick-up basketball game in January. He would never play another game for the Indians, but after his third stint with Triple-A Portland in 1968, he was traded to the newly-established Padres. He was the starting first baseman in the first official National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
game ever played by the Padres on April 8, 1969, and went hitless in three at bats against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He started ten more games in April, but did not hit enough to hold the regular job, and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in May. The Cardinals immediately sent him to Triple-A, where he spent the rest of the 1969 season, his last in baseball. He then returned to his hometown of Richfield, Minnesota
Richfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,439 people, 15,073 households, and 8,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,993.9 people per square mile . There were 15,357 housing units at an average density of 2,226.9 per square mile...
, where he worked in real estate and banking.
External links
- http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2001&pid=3307Levitt, Dan, Bill Davis, Society for American Baseball ResearchSociety for American Baseball ResearchThe Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
Baseball Biography Project]