Billy Meyer
Encyclopedia
William Adam Meyer was an American
baseball
player and manager
. He holds the dubious distinction as having played for, and managed, two of the worst teams in the history of Major League Baseball
.
A catcher
who spent most of his playing career in the minor leagues, Meyer broke into the majors with the 1913
Chicago White Sox
, but played only one game. Three years later, in 1916
, he returned to the American League
with the Philadelphia Athletics; he appeared in 50 games for a squad that won only 36 games and lost 117. (The following year
, he played in 62 games for an A's club that improved by 19 games, but still posted a poor 55-98 mark.)
Then, a generation-and-a-half later, Meyer piloted the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates
to the worst record in their history, the Bucs winning only 42 of 154 games.
, to William and Carrie Meyer. His father was born in Baden
, Germany
, and came to the United States at age 16 and operated a brewery
. Growing up, Billy Meyer's neighbor and classmate from grade school was Madelon Warters, who he eventually married. Meyer played baseball in grade school when his father bought him a catcher's glove to catch his older brother. His hero was catcher Johnny Kling
. Meyer was a good student until high school when baseball became a primary focus, even resulting in a school suspension. His father operated a brewery in Smithton, Pennsylvania
, for a time and the younger Meyer worked there during vacation. During sophomore
year of high school, Billy Meyer was offered $75 per month to play catcher for a Lakeland, Florida
, team, but he was expected to inherit the brewery, so his father resisted the idea. He went regardless, and played so well that a Sanford, Florida
, team offered him $175 per month to play for them. He played for other Florida teams and finally hit a championship-winning home run for Gainesville, Florida
. When he returned to Tennessee with $250, his father never protested against baseball again.
In 1915, Meyer played so well for a Davenport, Iowa
, team that Connie Mack
signed him to be the backup to catcher Wally Schang
for the major league Philadelphia Athletics. Meyer recalled that Mack had him catch for unpredictable young pitchers in order to save Schang. Meyer's major league catching career was over after just two seasons with the A's.
, replacing Joe McCarthy, who had been hired by the Chicago Cubs
for the 1926 season. In his first season, Louisville won the pennant with a team that included Billy Herman
(Meyer would replace Herman as the Pittsburgh Pirates
manager over 20 years later). However, Louisville lost over 100 games in 1927 and 1928 and Meyer was fired. In 1932, he was hired by Springfield of the Eastern League. The New York Yankees
hired him in 1938 and he won four pennants in ten years with their Kansas City
and Newark teams. Joe McCarthy was the manager of the Yankees during that time and recognized Meyer's achievements with the great Yankees of the time. Overall, as a minor league manager, Meyer won eight pennants, narrowly missed a ninth, and finished in the second division only twice. In addition to his Louisville pennant, he also won three with Kansas City (A.A.)
, one with Springfield (Eastern League), two with Binghamton
(New York-Pennsylvania League
), and one with Newark (International League
). On July 6, 1944, Meyer and Newark were in last place, 30 games behind
Bucky Harris
and his Buffalo Bisons and had lost to Buffalo seven consecutive times. Newark rebounded by winning 30 of 34 games while Buffalo dropped into the second division. Newark missed winning the pennant by a fraction of a percent.
For a dozen years (1936–47), Meyer was the manager of top farm clubs for the New York Yankees
— Oakland
of the Pacific Coast League
, Kansas City
of the American Association
, and Newark
of the International League
, winning four league championships. Unfortunately for Meyer, the skipper of the Yankees for most of that time was the legendary Joe McCarthy (ironically, a close friend of Meyer's ), and he was never called to manage the big club. In 19 seasons as a minor league skipper, Meyer's clubs won 1,605 and lost 1,325 (.548). After his 1939 Kansas City club won 107 games, Meyer was named Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News
.
Meyer was known for being scrappy for much of his career. With Newark, one of his players, Nick Rhabe, threatened the general manager, "If you don't get me more dough, you'll be sorry." Rhabe carried through on the threat by running the bases poorly in a game. Meyer responded by knocking Rhabe down the dugout steps and kicking him off the team. In general, he was a disciplinarian who rarely screamed at players, similar to the style of Joe McCarthy.
Meyer was an avid singer and a fan of George M. Cohan
. While in New York, Joe McCarthy introduced Meyer to Cohan. Meyer impressed him by singing songs that Cohan himself had not remembered writing.
During his minor league manager career, Meyer was considered for major league jobs several times. He was a candidate to be manager for the 1938 Cleveland Indians season
, but lost out to Ossie Vitt
. When Gabby Hartnett
departed after the 1940 Chicago Cubs season
, Meyer was considered, but Jimmie Wilson
got the job after helping the Cincinnati Reds
win the 1940 World Series
. In 1945, part-owner of the Boston Braves, Frank McKinney, approached Meyer at the Little World Series in Louisville, but the Braves ultimately chose Billy Southworth
.
, owner Larry MacPhail
offered the Yankees manager job to Meyer. But Meyer had suffered from serious illness in 1946 and declined the offer. Without Meyer, the Yankees won the pennant in 1947
. In contrast, the Pittsburgh Pirates finished their second consecutive seventh-place season in the eight-team National League. For their 1948 season
, the Pirates hired Meyer for his first major league job. Joe McCarthy claimed Meyer had been the best minor league manager and predicted he would be one of the best in the majors as well. In his first season, Pittsburgh rose from seventh to fourth place in the National League
standings. The 21-game improvement to a record of 83-71 earned Meyer The Sporting News Major League Manager of the Year. At year's end, the Yankees fired Bucky Harris
and asked the Pirates for permission to offer their manager's job to Meyer; newly appointed Yankee general manager
George Weiss
knew and respected Meyer from their long association in the Yanks' farm system. But the Yankees' overtures were rebuffed, and Weiss was forced to hire his second choice: Casey Stengel
, who would win 10 pennants in 12 years in the Bronx on his way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Meyer remained in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates—despite the home run
heroics of Ralph Kiner
—quickly plummeted back to the bottom of the NL standings. By 1950
, they were back in the cellar, and legendary executive Branch Rickey
became Pittsburgh's general manager. His solution was to purge the team of high-salaried veterans and bring up young players from the minors. The tactic had worked for Rickey with the St. Louis Cardinals
and Brooklyn Dodgers
, but backfired disastrously in Pittsburgh, since most of the youngsters he called up were not ready for the majors. They managed to improve to seventh in 1951
, but by 1952, the team hit its nadir, losing 112 games. Meyer was replaced by Fred Haney
at the end of that campaign.
Meyer spent 1953 to 1955 scouting for the Pirates.
of only .236 (with one home run and 21 runs batted in), Meyer was given two significant honors, a measure of how widely respected he was. For years the baseball park in his native city of Knoxville, Tennessee
, was named Bill Meyer Stadium
. And the Pirates retired Meyer's uniform number (1), despite that horrible 1952 campaign.
Meyer was frequently troubled by ill health during the last decade of his managerial career. Once in retirement, he suffered a stroke
in 1955 and died two years later, in Knoxville, of a heart attack
at age 64.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player and 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...
. He holds the dubious distinction as having played for, and managed, two of the worst teams in the history of 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...
.
A catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who spent most of his playing career in the minor leagues, Meyer broke into the majors with the 1913
1913 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over New York Giants -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award** Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P** Jake Daubert, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1B-MLB statistical leaders:1MLB Triple Crown Winner for Pitching...
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, but played only one game. Three years later, in 1916
1916 in baseball
left|thumb|300px|[[Woodrow Wilson]] throws out the ball on opening day.-Champions:*World Series: Boston Red Sox over Brooklyn Robins -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...
, he returned to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with the Philadelphia Athletics; he appeared in 50 games for a squad that won only 36 games and lost 117. (The following year
1917 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: Chicago White Sox over New York Giants -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...
, he played in 62 games for an A's club that improved by 19 games, but still posted a poor 55-98 mark.)
Then, a generation-and-a-half later, Meyer piloted the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates
1952 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the team's 71st season in Major League Baseball, and their 66th season in the National League. The Pirates posted a record of 42 wins and 112 losses, their worst record since 1890, and one of the worst in major league history.- Offseason :The Pirates were led...
to the worst record in their history, the Bucs winning only 42 of 154 games.
Early life and major league catcher
Meyer was born in Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, to William and Carrie Meyer. His father was born in Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and came to the United States at age 16 and operated a brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
. Growing up, Billy Meyer's neighbor and classmate from grade school was Madelon Warters, who he eventually married. Meyer played baseball in grade school when his father bought him a catcher's glove to catch his older brother. His hero was catcher Johnny Kling
Johnny Kling
John Kling was a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs , Boston Rustlers & Braves , and Cincinnati Reds .-Early years:John Gransfield Kling was born and raised in Kansas City, the son of John and...
. Meyer was a good student until high school when baseball became a primary focus, even resulting in a school suspension. His father operated a brewery in Smithton, Pennsylvania
Smithton, Pennsylvania
Smithton is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 444 at the 2000 census.Smithton's early industry was in coal mining, coke ovens, and shipping goods produced in the valley of Jacobs Creek....
, for a time and the younger Meyer worked there during vacation. During sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
year of high school, Billy Meyer was offered $75 per month to play catcher for a Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, team, but he was expected to inherit the brewery, so his father resisted the idea. He went regardless, and played so well that a Sanford, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
, team offered him $175 per month to play for them. He played for other Florida teams and finally hit a championship-winning home run for Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
. When he returned to Tennessee with $250, his father never protested against baseball again.
In 1915, Meyer played so well for a Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, team that Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
signed him to be the backup to catcher Wally Schang
Wally Schang
Walter Henry Schang was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1913 through 1931, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers . Schang was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
for the major league Philadelphia Athletics. Meyer recalled that Mack had him catch for unpredictable young pitchers in order to save Schang. Meyer's major league catching career was over after just two seasons with the A's.
Minor league manager
Nearly a decade after his major league playing career, Meyer became the manager of Louisville in 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...
, replacing Joe McCarthy, who had been hired by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for the 1926 season. In his first season, Louisville won the pennant with a team that included Billy Herman
Billy Herman
William Jennings Bryan "Billy" Herman was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball during the 1930s and 1940s. He was known for his stellar defense and consistent batting...
(Meyer would replace Herman as the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
manager over 20 years later). However, Louisville lost over 100 games in 1927 and 1928 and Meyer was fired. In 1932, he was hired by Springfield of the Eastern League. 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...
hired him in 1938 and he won four pennants in ten years with their Kansas City
Kansas 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....
and Newark teams. Joe McCarthy was the manager of the Yankees during that time and recognized Meyer's achievements with the great Yankees of the time. Overall, as a minor league manager, Meyer won eight pennants, narrowly missed a ninth, and finished in the second division only twice. In addition to his Louisville pennant, he also won three with Kansas City (A.A.)
Kansas 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....
, one with Springfield (Eastern League), two with Binghamton
Binghamton Triplets
The Binghamton Triplets were a minor league baseball team in Binghamton, New York, affiliated with the New York Yankees ; the team also had brief affiliations with the Kansas City Athletics and the Milwaukee Braves...
(New York-Pennsylvania League
New York-Pennsylvania League (early 20th century)
The New York-Pennsylvania League of 1923 through 1937 was an American minor league baseball circuit.The forerunner to the modern Class AA Eastern League, it was a Class B circuit through 1932 and upgraded to Class A for the final five seasons of its existence. It is actually the second of three...
), and one with Newark (International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
). On July 6, 1944, Meyer and Newark were in last place, 30 games behind
Games behind
In sports, the phrase games behind or games back , is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division...
Bucky Harris
Bucky Harris
Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris was a Major League Baseball player, manager and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
and his Buffalo Bisons and had lost to Buffalo seven consecutive times. Newark rebounded by winning 30 of 34 games while Buffalo dropped into the second division. Newark missed winning the pennant by a fraction of a percent.
For a dozen years (1936–47), Meyer was the manager of top farm clubs for 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...
— Oakland
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, Kansas City
Kansas 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 Association
American 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...
, and Newark
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, winning four league championships. Unfortunately for Meyer, the skipper of the Yankees for most of that time was the legendary Joe McCarthy (ironically, a close friend of Meyer's ), and he was never called to manage the big club. In 19 seasons as a minor league skipper, Meyer's clubs won 1,605 and lost 1,325 (.548). After his 1939 Kansas City club won 107 games, Meyer was named Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
.
Meyer was known for being scrappy for much of his career. With Newark, one of his players, Nick Rhabe, threatened the general manager, "If you don't get me more dough, you'll be sorry." Rhabe carried through on the threat by running the bases poorly in a game. Meyer responded by knocking Rhabe down the dugout steps and kicking him off the team. In general, he was a disciplinarian who rarely screamed at players, similar to the style of Joe McCarthy.
Meyer was an avid singer and a fan of George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
. While in New York, Joe McCarthy introduced Meyer to Cohan. Meyer impressed him by singing songs that Cohan himself had not remembered writing.
During his minor league manager career, Meyer was considered for major league jobs several times. He was a candidate to be manager for the 1938 Cleveland Indians season
1938 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the American League with a record of 86-66, 13 games behind the New York Yankees.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, but lost out to Ossie Vitt
Ossie Vitt
Oscar Joseph "Ossie" Vitt , was a Major League Baseball third baseman in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox . Vitt later became manager of the Cleveland Indians , where he sometimes clashed with his players.-Playing career:Ossie Vitt was a product of the sandlots of...
. When Gabby Hartnett
Gabby Hartnett
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...
departed after the 1940 Chicago Cubs season
1940 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 3, 1940: Jake Mooty was drafted by the Cubs from the Syracuse Stars in the 1939 rule 5 draft.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, Meyer was considered, but Jimmie Wilson
Jimmie Wilson
James Wilson , nicknamed "Ace," was an American professional athlete in soccer and baseball.He began his professional sports career as a soccer outside right in the National Association Football League and American Soccer League before becoming a catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball...
got the job after helping the Cincinnati Reds
1940 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished first in the National League with a record of 100-53, winning the pennant by 12 games over the Brooklyn Dodgers...
win the 1940 World Series
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
. In 1945, part-owner of the Boston Braves, Frank McKinney, approached Meyer at the Little World Series in Louisville, but the Braves ultimately chose Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth
William Harrison Southworth was an American right fielder, center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Playing in and and from to , he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Southworth managed in and from through...
.
Managing career
After the tumultuous 1946 New York Yankees season1946 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 44th season in New York, and its 46th overall. The team finished with a record of 87-67, finishing 17 games behind of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy, Bill Dickey, and Johnny Neun...
, owner Larry MacPhail
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail, Sr. was an American lawyer, and an executive and innovator in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
offered the Yankees manager job to Meyer. But Meyer had suffered from serious illness in 1946 and declined the offer. Without Meyer, the Yankees won the pennant in 1947
1947 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 45th season in New York, and its 47th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 15th pennant, finishing 12 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Bucky Harris. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
. In contrast, the Pittsburgh Pirates finished their second consecutive seventh-place season in the eight-team National League. For their 1948 season
1948 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* December 8, 1947: Billy Cox, Gene Mauch and Preacher Roe were traded by the Pirates to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Hal Gregg, Vic Lombardi and Dixie Walker.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, the Pirates hired Meyer for his first major league job. Joe McCarthy claimed Meyer had been the best minor league manager and predicted he would be one of the best in the majors as well. In his first season, Pittsburgh rose from seventh to fourth place in the 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...
standings. The 21-game improvement to a record of 83-71 earned Meyer The Sporting News Major League Manager of the Year. At year's end, the Yankees fired Bucky Harris
Bucky Harris
Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris was a Major League Baseball player, manager and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
and asked the Pirates for permission to offer their manager's job to Meyer; newly appointed Yankee general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
George Weiss
George Weiss (baseball)
George Martin Weiss was an American baseball executive. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.Weiss was one of Major League Baseball's most successful farm system directors and general managers...
knew and respected Meyer from their long association in the Yanks' farm system. But the Yankees' overtures were rebuffed, and Weiss was forced to hire his second choice: Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
, who would win 10 pennants in 12 years in the Bronx on his way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Meyer remained in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates—despite the 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...
heroics of Ralph Kiner
Ralph Kiner
Ralph McPherran Kiner is an American former Major League Baseball player and has been an announcer for the New York Mets since the team's inception. Though injuries forced his retirement from active play after 10 seasons, Kiner's tremendous slugging outpaced nearly all of his National League...
—quickly plummeted back to the bottom of the NL standings. By 1950
1950 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...
, they were back in the cellar, and legendary executive Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
became Pittsburgh's general manager. His solution was to purge the team of high-salaried veterans and bring up young players from the minors. The tactic had worked for Rickey with 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...
and 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...
, but backfired disastrously in Pittsburgh, since most of the youngsters he called up were not ready for the majors. They managed to improve to seventh in 1951
1951 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:Baseball's Shot Heard 'Round the World gives the New York Giants the National League Pennant in the third game of a best-of-three-games tiebreaker series over the Brooklyn Dodgers.-Major League Baseball:...
, but by 1952, the team hit its nadir, losing 112 games. Meyer was replaced by Fred Haney
Fred Haney
Fred Girard Haney was an American third baseman, manager, coach and executive in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he won two pennants and a world championship with the Milwaukee Braves and, as an executive, he was the first general manager of the expansion Los Angeles Angels of the American...
at the end of that campaign.
Meyer spent 1953 to 1955 scouting for the Pirates.
Honored by native city
Despite a managing record of 317-452 (.412) over five seasons, all with Pittsburgh, and a career batting averageBatting 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 :...
of only .236 (with one home run and 21 runs batted in), Meyer was given two significant honors, a measure of how widely respected he was. For years the baseball park in his native city of Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, was named Bill Meyer Stadium
Bill Meyer Stadium
Bill Meyer Stadium was a baseball field located in Knoxville, Tennessee.It was named after Billy Meyer , a Knoxville native who was a catcher and manager in Major League Baseball and a longtime minor league skipper.-Baseball Usage:...
. And the Pirates retired Meyer's uniform number (1), despite that horrible 1952 campaign.
Meyer was frequently troubled by ill health during the last decade of his managerial career. Once in retirement, he suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1955 and died two years later, in Knoxville, of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 64.