Billy Purtell
Encyclopedia
William Patrick "Billy" Purtell (January 6, 1886 – March 17, 1962) was a third baseman
who played five seasons in Major League Baseball
with the Chicago White Sox
(1908-1910), Boston Red Sox
(1910-1911), and Detroit Tigers
(1914).
Born in Columbus, Ohio
, Purtell hit .227 in 335 major league games. The only hitting category in which he excelled was the sacrifice hit
. He had 28 sacrifice hits in 1909 (10th best in the American League
) and 32 in 1910 (3rd best). In 1910, Purtell set an unusual record that still stands. While batting .210 in 151 games for the White Sox and Red Sox, he hit only 6 doubles
, the fewest by any major league player in 150 or more games. He did have 5 triples
and two home run
s. He knocked in 51 runs in 1910.
On August 9, 1910, Purtell was traded by the Chicago White Sox with Frank Smith
to the Boston Red Sox for Harry Lord
and Amby McConnell
.
After playing in the major leagues, Purtell continued to play professional baseball. In fact, his playing career spanned 25 years from 1904-1928. In 1918, he was the starting third baseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
-- considered one of the best minor league teams of all time. The team went 88-39 in 1918, and Purtell hit .311 for the Maple Leafs.
Purtell died in 1962 at age 56 in Bradenton, Florida
. He was buried at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida
.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
who played five seasons 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...
with the 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...
(1908-1910), 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"...
(1910-1911), and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1914).
Born in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Purtell hit .227 in 335 major league games. The only hitting category in which he excelled was the sacrifice hit
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
. He had 28 sacrifice hits in 1909 (10th best in 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...
) and 32 in 1910 (3rd best). In 1910, Purtell set an unusual record that still stands. While batting .210 in 151 games for the White Sox and Red Sox, he hit only 6 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....
, the fewest by any major league player in 150 or more games. He did have 5 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....
and two 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. He knocked in 51 runs in 1910.
On August 9, 1910, Purtell was traded by the Chicago White Sox with Frank Smith
Frank Smith (1900s pitcher)
Frank Elmer Smith was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1904 to 1915. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Terrapins, and Brooklyn Tip-Tops. Nicknamed "Piano Mover" because that was his offseason job, Smith was a mainstay of the White...
to the Boston Red Sox for Harry Lord
Harry Lord
Harry Donald Lord was a professional baseball player from 1907 to 1915, who was a member of the first team known as Boston Red Sox in 1908.-Biography:...
and Amby McConnell
Amby McConnell
Ambrose Moses McConnell , born in North Powell, Vermont, was a professional baseball player for Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox...
.
After playing in the major leagues, Purtell continued to play professional baseball. In fact, his playing career spanned 25 years from 1904-1928. In 1918, he was the starting third baseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs 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...
-- considered one of the best minor league teams of all time. The team went 88-39 in 1918, and Purtell hit .311 for the Maple Leafs.
Purtell died in 1962 at age 56 in Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
. He was buried at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida
Ellenton, Florida
Ellenton is a census-designated place in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,142 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.