Billy DeMars

Who is Billy DeMars?

William Lester DeMars is a retired American shortstop and coach in Major League Baseball. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 160 pounds during his playing career.

Originally signed by his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers during the Second World War, DeMars was selected by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1947 rule 5 draft after batting .328 with 88 runs batted in for the Class B Asheville Tourists of the Tri-State League – DeMars' best overall season in professional baseball. He played 80 major league games over three seasons for the A's and the St. Louis Browns, batting .237 with no home runs and 14 RBI in 211 at bats. He spent the prime of his career with the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League from 1952–1955.

On May 25, 1958, DeMars began an 11-year minor league managerial career in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system with the Class C Aberdeen Pheasants of the Northern League, who had lost 23 of their first 25 games.