Bill Seinsoth

Who was Bill Seinsoth?

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."