Bill Renna
Encyclopedia
William Beneditto Renna (born October 14, 1924 in Hanford, California
) is a former left fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Nicknamed "Big Bill," he was listed at 6 inch and 218 pounds (98.9 kg), and batted and threw right-handed. Renna was one of the first of several Santa Clara University
graduates to reach the MLB level.
Renna entered the majors in 1953 with the New York Yankees
, playing for them one year before joining the Philadelphia Athletics
(1954), Kansas City Athletics
(1955-56) and Boston Red Sox
(1958-59). His most productive season came in 1954 with the Athletics, when he posted career-numbers in home run
s (13), runs
(52), RBI
and games (123), while hitting .254. Primarily a pinch-hitter for the 1958 Red Sox, he collected 18 RBI on only 15 pinch-hits.
In a six-season career, Renna was a .239 hitter (219-for-918) with 28 home runs and 119 RBI in 370 games, including 123 runs, 36 doubles
, 10 triples
, two stolen base
s, and a .315 on-base percentage.
Hanford, California
Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
) is a former left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in 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...
who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Nicknamed "Big Bill," he was listed at 6 inch and 218 pounds (98.9 kg), and batted and threw right-handed. Renna was one of the first of several Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
graduates to reach the MLB level.
Renna entered the majors in 1953 with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, playing for them one year before joining the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1954), Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1955-56) and 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"...
(1958-59). His most productive season came in 1954 with the Athletics, when he posted career-numbers in 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...
s (13), runs
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...
(52), RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and games (123), while hitting .254. Primarily a pinch-hitter for the 1958 Red Sox, he collected 18 RBI on only 15 pinch-hits.
In a six-season career, Renna was a .239 hitter (219-for-918) with 28 home runs and 119 RBI in 370 games, including 123 runs, 36 doubles
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....
, 10 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and a .315 on-base percentage.
Fact
- Renna entered the baseball record books while playing for the Kansas City BluesKansas City Blues (American Association)The Kansas City Blues are a former minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association....
of the American AssociationAmerican Association (20th century)The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. On June 29, 1952, the Blues belted 10 home runs against the St. Paul SaintsSt. Paul SaintsThe St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
to set a league mark for most home runs by one team. Kansas City collected 53 total basesTotal basesIn baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
and hit six homers in an inning, also AA marks, en route to a 17-4 win. Roy ParteeRoy ParteeRoy Robert Partee was a backup catcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns . Listed at 5' 10" Weight: 180 lb., Partee batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Los Angeles, California to father Clair C...
hit three homers (including two in the big inning), while Renna, Vic PowerVictor PellotVictor Pellot a.k.a. "Vic Power" was the second black Puerto Rican to play in Major League Baseball and the first Puerto Rican to play in the American League...
and Kal SegristKal SegristKal Hill Segrist is a former utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles . Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., Segrist batted and threw right-handed...
added two apiece and Andy CareyAndy CareyAndrew Arthur Carey is a former major league third baseman for the New York Yankees , and three other major league teams from 1960 to 1962...
hit one.