Bill Rigney

Lore & Background

Born in Alameda, California, Rigney batted and threw right-handed. He began his professional baseball career in 1938 with the unaffiliated Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. After World War II service in the United States Coast Guard, he was a 28-year-old rookie with the New York Giants. He played third base, shortstop and second base, and was selected to the National League All-Star team in 1948. As a utility infielder, he was a member of the 1951 NL champion Giants and appeared in four games of the 1951 World Series. He finished his playing career with a .259 batting average, 510 hits, 41 home runs and 212 RBIs over 654 games.

Reader's Guide

Rigney began his managerial career with the Giants, serving as their last manager in New York City and first in San Francisco. He was fired as Giants manager on June 17, 1960, with the club at 33–25 in second place. He then became the first manager of the Los Angeles Angels, serving until May of 1969. In 1970, he managed the Minnesota Twins to the AL West division championship, the only postseason entry of his big-league tenure. Fired midseason in 1972, he concluded his managerial career in 1976 by serving a one-year term at the helm of his original team, the Giants. His overall managerial record was 1,239 wins and 1,321 losses.

Did You Know?

• Rigney was the Giants' regular third baseman in 1947 and their starting second baseman in both 1948 and 1949.
• In the 1948 All-Star Game, he drew a base on balls off Joe Coleman in his only plate appearance.
• Rigney was named Manager of the Year by The Sporting News in 1962 after leading the Angels to an 86–76 record.
• The 'Bill Rigney Good Guy Award' is given each year to a Bay-Area MLB player who is most accommodating to the media.