Bill McKechnie
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William Boyd McKechnie (August 7, 1886 - October 29, 1965) was a Major League Baseball player and manager. Nicknamed "Deacon" because he sang in his church choir and generally lived a quiet life, his 1892 wins as a manager ranks 11th all-time.
Born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, McKechnie made his major league debut in 1907 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in 3 games, before reemerging with the team in 1910 in a more substantial role. A utility infielder, McKechnie played with the Pirates (1907, 1910-1912, 1918, 1920), Boston Braves (1913), New York Yankees (1913), Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914), Newark Pepper (1915), New York Giants (1916) and Cincinnati Reds (1916 - 1917). His best offensive season came in 1914 with the Hoosiers, in which he scored 107 runs, batted .304 and stole 47 bases.
McKechnie got his first taste of managerial duties in 1915 when he managed 102 games for the Newark Pepper, leading the team to a 54-45 record. Shortly after retiring as a player in 1920, McKechnie returned to manage full time, assuming the helm of the Pirates in 1922. Managing the Pirates (1922 - 1926), St. Louis Cardinals (1928 - 1929), Boston Braves (1930 - 1937) and Cincinnati Reds (1938 - 1946), he compiled 1896 wins and 1723 losses for a .524 winning percentage. His teams won four National League pennants (1925, 1928, 1939 and 1940) and two World Series championships (1925 and 1940), and he remains the only manager to win National League pennants with three different teams (Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Cincinnati). His 1896 wins ranks 11th all-time among major league managers.
McKechnie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1967.
The Pirates spring training home, McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida, is named after him.
Stats
| Number of Games | Average | HR | RBI |
| 845 | .251 | 8 | 240 |
| Wins-Losses | Winning % | |
| Manager | 1898-1724 | .524 |
| World Series | 8-14 | .364 |
External links
- Bill McKechnie's career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mckecbi01.shtml)
- Baseball Hall of Fame Biography (http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/mckechnie_bill.htm)
- BaseballLibrary Mckechnie (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/McKechnie_Bill.stm)