Bill Ramsey
Encyclopedia
William Thrace Ramsey, Jr. (October 20, 1920 – January 4, 2008) was an American professional baseball
player who was an outfielder
for the Boston Braves
for a single Major League Baseball
season in 1945.
Ramsey was born in Osceola, Arkansas
. He attended the University of Florida
.
On November 1, 1944, he had been drafted by the Boston Braves from the St. Louis Cardinals
in the 1944 rule 5 draft
. Ramsey was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II
. He made his major league debut on April 19, 1945 against the New York Giants
at Braves Field
. Besides his outfield duties he was often used as a pinch-hitter. In a total of 78 games he hit .292 (40-for-137) with 1 home run
, 12 runs batted in, 16 runs scored
, and a slugging percentage of .372.
He died at Kirby Pines Manor in Memphis, Tennessee
on January 4, 2008 and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery
in Memphis.
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...
player who was an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for a single 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...
season in 1945.
Ramsey was born in Osceola, Arkansas
Osceola, Arkansas
-Notable natives & residents:* Bill Alexander, U.S. Representative from First Congressional District, 1969–1993* David Barrett, New York Jets cornerback* Maurice Carthon, former NFL and USFL player and NFL assistant coach...
. He attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
On November 1, 1944, he had been drafted by the Boston Braves from 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 the 1944 rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. Ramsey was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He made his major league debut on April 19, 1945 against the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at Braves Field
Braves Field
Braves Field was a baseball park that formerly stood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium was home to the Boston Braves National League franchise from 1915–1952, when the team moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
. Besides his outfield duties he was often used as a pinch-hitter. In a total of 78 games he hit .292 (40-for-137) with 1 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 12 runs batted in, 16 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and a slugging percentage of .372.
He died at Kirby Pines Manor in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
on January 4, 2008 and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)
Historic Elmwood Cemetery is the oldest active cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1852 as one of the first rural garden cemeteries in the South.-Origins:...
in Memphis.
Trivia
- Ramsey's nickname was "Square Jaw."
- His tombstone lists his birth date as 20 February 1920