Bill Seinsoth
Encyclopedia
William R. Seinsoth was a first baseman who is most notable for winning the 1968 College World Series
Most Outstanding Player
award while a junior at University of Southern California
. He is one of seven players from University of Southern California to win that award. The others are Bill Thom
, Bud Hollowell
, Russ McQueen
, George Milke
, Rod Boxberger
and Wes Rachels
. Also an All-American, he hit .327 with 31 RBI in his sophomore season. The next year, he hit .312 with six home runs and 23 RBI. He hit .368 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI in 1969. He had a career .337 average in college.
He played for the Alaska Goldpanners of the Alaska Baseball League
from 1966 to 1968. He was named the Goldpanners' team MVP in 1967.
Prior to playing collegiately, he attended Arcadia High School
.
He was drafted five times, but he played only one year professionally, never reaching the majors. He died in a motor vehicle accident at the age of 22, while on the way to watch the professional football debut of his college friend O.J. Simpson. He died at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, California
. One of the letters received for his funeral was from California Governor Ronald Reagan, who wrote "One thing you know more than anyone is how much better the world is because of your son passed our way.. you have every reason to be proud of him." Rod Dedeaux said, "If Bill Seinsoth had lived, there's a good chance that no one would have ever heard of Steve Garvey."
He played for the Bakersfield Dodgers in 1969, hitting .276 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI.
His cousin was former Los Angeles Dodgers
player Tommy Hutton
. His father, also named Bill Seinsoth, played professionally from 1936 to 1950.
1968 College World Series
The 1968 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 15. The twenty-second tournament's champion was the University of Southern California, coached by Rod Dedeaux...
Most Outstanding Player
College World Series Most Outstanding Player
The College World Series Most Outstanding Player is an award for the best individual performance during the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The recipient of the award is announced at the completion of the College World Series Championship Game...
award while a junior at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He is one of seven players from University of Southern California to win that award. The others are Bill Thom
Bill Thom
William Charles Thom was a pitcher who is most notable for winning the 1958 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a junior at University of Southern California. He is one of seven players from University of Southern Califnoria to win that award...
, Bud Hollowell
Bud Hollowell
Buddy Ryan Hollowell was a baseball catcher who is notable for multiple reasons. He won the 1963 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a junior at University of Southern California after hitting .350 in the Series, he participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he was a minor...
, Russ McQueen
Russ McQueen
Russell L. McQueen was a pitcher who is most notable for winning the 1972 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a sophomore at University of Southern California. He is one of seven players from University of Southern California to win that award. The others are Bill Thom, Bud...
, George Milke
George Milke
George E. Milke was a pitcher who is most notable for winning the 1974 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a sophomore at University of Southern California. He is one of seven players from University of Southern California to win that award...
, Rod Boxberger
Rod Boxberger
Rodney Warren Boxberger is a former starting pitcher who is most notable for winning the 1978 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a junior at the University of Southern California...
and Wes Rachels
Wes Rachels
Wesley Adam Rachels was a second baseman who is most notable for winning the 1998 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a senior at University of Southern California. He is one of seven players from University of Southern California to win that award...
. Also an All-American, he hit .327 with 31 RBI in his sophomore season. The next year, he hit .312 with six home runs and 23 RBI. He hit .368 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI in 1969. He had a career .337 average in college.
He played for the Alaska Goldpanners of the Alaska Baseball League
Alaska Baseball League
The Alaska Baseball League is an amateur collegiate summer baseball league, with six teams located in four Alaskan cities. Players in the league must have attended one year of college and must have one year of NCAA eligibility remaining....
from 1966 to 1968. He was named the Goldpanners' team MVP in 1967.
Prior to playing collegiately, he attended Arcadia High School
Arcadia High School (Arcadia, California)
Arcadia High School is a part of the Arcadia Unified School District and is a four-year comprehensive secondary school located on a site in Arcadia, California. Their motto is"Our Caring Makes a Difference."...
.
He was drafted five times, but he played only one year professionally, never reaching the majors. He died in a motor vehicle accident at the age of 22, while on the way to watch the professional football debut of his college friend O.J. Simpson. He died at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
. One of the letters received for his funeral was from California Governor Ronald Reagan, who wrote "One thing you know more than anyone is how much better the world is because of your son passed our way.. you have every reason to be proud of him." Rod Dedeaux said, "If Bill Seinsoth had lived, there's a good chance that no one would have ever heard of Steve Garvey."
Times drafted
(Year, Team, Round)- 1965, Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe 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...
, 15th - 1967, Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, 9th - 1968, Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe 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...
, 5th - 1969, 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...
, 4th - 1969, Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe 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...
, 1st
Professional baseball and family relations
He signed with the Dodgers for a $40,000 signing bonus.He played for the Bakersfield Dodgers in 1969, hitting .276 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI.
His cousin was former Los Angeles 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...
player Tommy Hutton
Tommy Hutton
Thomas George Hutton is a former Major League Baseball player and is currently the color analyst for Miami Marlins baseball broadcasts on FSN Florida and Sun Sports - a position he has held since the 1997 season...
. His father, also named Bill Seinsoth, played professionally from 1936 to 1950.