Bill Denehy (baseball)
Encyclopedia
William Francis Denehy is a retired American
professional baseball
pitcher
and coach
. Denehy threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 inch tall, and weighed 200 lb (90.7 kg).
The second-ever Middletown Little League
alumnus to play Major League Baseball, he signed with the New York Mets
out of high school for a $20,000 bonus and made his professional debut with the Auburn Mets
of the New York-Penn League (then Class A) in 1965. He led the league in wins with 13, and the following season won nine of 11 decisions with the Class AA Williamsport Mets
of the Eastern League, compiling a stellar 1.97 earned run average
. In 1967
, Denehy made 15 Major League
appearances for the Mets, dropping seven of eight decisions with an ERA of 4.67. The 1967 Mets
finished in tenth and last place, the fifth cellar-dwelling team in the expansion club's six-year history.
for the Senators' manager
, Gil Hodges
, who was then in the middle of a multi-year contract he had signed as Washington's skipper. The Mets' managerial post was open after the late-season departure of Wes Westrum
, and team officials began negotiations with the Senators to release Hodges from his contract, which still had a year to run.
Hodges was a New York baseball legend as the power-hitting and Gold Glove-fielding first baseman
for the Brooklyn Dodgers
of the 1950s. He had become a year-round resident of Brooklyn, and in the twilight of his playing career was an original Met, starting at first base in their maiden NL game in 1962
. On May 23, 1963, the Mets had traded Hodges to Washington for centerfielder Jimmy Piersall
, and Hodges immediately retired as an active player to become the Senators' manager. Although the expansion-era Senators had themselves never posted a winning record since their 1961 inception, the team had shown steady season-to-season improvement since Hodges' appointment as manager. During the 1967 baseball winter meetings, and the three-week-long interleague trading period then in effect, the Mets agreed to send Denehy and $100,000 as compensation for Washington's release of Hodges from his contract.
and spent most of the season in the minor leagues. The following season, Denehy remained in Triple-A and was traded in June to the Cleveland Indians
' organization. Meanwhile, in his second year as the Mets' manager, Hodges led the "1969 Miracle Mets
" to the team's first National League
and World Series
championships.
Denehy returned to the Majors with the 1971 Detroit Tigers
, appearing in 31 games, all but one of them in relief
, compiling an 0-3 mark with an ERA of 4.22 in 49 innings.
All told, Denehy appeared in 49 Major League games, winning one and losing ten (.091) with an ERA of 4.56 in 104⅔ innings pitched. He retired after the 1973 season, but a decade later served as a pitching coach with the Boston Red Sox
' Bristol
and New Britain affiliates in the Eastern League.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. Denehy threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 inch tall, and weighed 200 lb (90.7 kg).
The second-ever Middletown Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
alumnus to play Major League Baseball, he signed with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
out of high school for a $20,000 bonus and made his professional debut with the Auburn Mets
Auburn Mets
* Location: Auburn, NY* League: New York-Penn League 1962-1966* Affiliation: New York Mets 1962-1966* Ballpark: Falcon Park...
of the New York-Penn League (then Class A) in 1965. He led the league in wins with 13, and the following season won nine of 11 decisions with the Class AA Williamsport Mets
Williamsport Mets
The Williamsport Mets were a former minor league double-A affiliate of the New York Mets from 1964 through 1967. Williamsport played in the Eastern League at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, PA....
of the Eastern League, compiling a stellar 1.97 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. In 1967
1967 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 6th regular season for the Mets. They went 61-101 and finished 10th in the National League, 40½ games behind the NL pennant and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. They were managed by Wes Westrum and Salty Parker...
, Denehy made 15 Major League
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...
appearances for the Mets, dropping seven of eight decisions with an ERA of 4.67. The 1967 Mets
1967 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 6th regular season for the Mets. They went 61-101 and finished 10th in the National League, 40½ games behind the NL pennant and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. They were managed by Wes Westrum and Salty Parker...
finished in tenth and last place, the fifth cellar-dwelling team in the expansion club's six-year history.
Traded for manager Gil Hodges
On November 27, 1967, the Mets traded Denehy to the Washington SenatorsTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for the Senators' manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, who was then in the middle of a multi-year contract he had signed as Washington's skipper. The Mets' managerial post was open after the late-season departure of Wes Westrum
Wes Westrum
Wesley Noreen Westrum was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager, and scout. He played for 11 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants from to . He was known as a superb defensive catcher...
, and team officials began negotiations with the Senators to release Hodges from his contract, which still had a year to run.
Hodges was a New York baseball legend as the power-hitting and Gold Glove-fielding 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...
for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of the 1950s. He had become a year-round resident of Brooklyn, and in the twilight of his playing career was an original Met, starting at first base in their maiden NL game in 1962
1962 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the first regular season for the Mets, as the National League returned to New York for the first time since . They went 40-120 and finished tenth and last in the National League, games behind the NL Champion San Francisco Giants, who once called New York home...
. On May 23, 1963, the Mets had traded Hodges to Washington for centerfielder Jimmy Piersall
Jimmy Piersall
James Anthony Piersall is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. Between 1950 and 1967, he played for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , New York Mets , and Los Angeles/California Angels .While he had a fairly good professional career as a center...
, and Hodges immediately retired as an active player to become the Senators' manager. Although the expansion-era Senators had themselves never posted a winning record since their 1961 inception, the team had shown steady season-to-season improvement since Hodges' appointment as manager. During the 1967 baseball winter meetings, and the three-week-long interleague trading period then in effect, the Mets agreed to send Denehy and $100,000 as compensation for Washington's release of Hodges from his contract.
Career with Senators, Tigers
While Hodges brought home an improved, but still ninth-place, Mets' team in , Denehy pitched in only three innings for the 1968 Senators1968 Washington Senators season
The Washington Senators season involved the Senators finishing 10th in the American League with a record of 65 wins and 96 losses.- Offseason :...
and spent most of the season in the minor leagues. The following season, Denehy remained in Triple-A and was traded in June to 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...
' organization. Meanwhile, in his second year as the Mets' manager, Hodges led the "1969 Miracle Mets
1969 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the eighth season for the Mets franchise, which played its home games at Shea Stadium. Managed by Gil Hodges, the team went 100-62, finishing first in the newly-established National League East by eight games over the Chicago Cubs...
" to the team's first 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...
and World Series
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
championships.
Denehy returned to the Majors with the 1971 Detroit Tigers
1971 Detroit Tigers season
The 1971 Detroit Tigers finished in second place in the American League East with a 91-71 record, 12 games behind the Orioles. They outscored their opponents 701 to 645...
, appearing in 31 games, all but one of them in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, compiling an 0-3 mark with an ERA of 4.22 in 49 innings.
All told, Denehy appeared in 49 Major League games, winning one and losing ten (.091) with an ERA of 4.56 in 104⅔ innings pitched. He retired after the 1973 season, but a decade later served as a pitching coach with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
' Bristol
Bristol Red Sox
The Bristol Red Sox was name of an American minor league baseball franchise. Based in Bristol, Connecticut, it was the Double-A Eastern League farm system affiliate of the Boston Red Sox for ten seasons, 1973 through 1982, and played at Muzzy Field....
and New Britain affiliates in the Eastern League.