Billy Hunter

Who is Billy Hunter?

Gordon William Hunter is a retired American shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.

A slick-fielding, light-hitting shortstop from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the right-handed-batting Hunter was originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. With his path to the Majors blocked by Pee Wee Reese, he was sold to the St. Louis Browns of the American League on October 14, 1952, for $150,000 after leading the Texas League in fielding and stolen bases. Hunter was the starting shortstop for the last Browns club in 1953 and the first modern MLB Orioles team when the Brownies transferred to Baltimore in 1954. For the remainder of his career, however, he was a second-string infielder for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics and Cleveland Indians. Hunter batted .219 in 630 games over his six-year AL career.

When Hunter's playing career ended, he managed in the Baltimore farm system and became the Orioles' third-base coach in November 1963. He performed that role for almost 14 seasons for four AL champions and two World Series winners. In late 1971, Hunter declined a chance to become Manager of the California Angels.