Bill Allington
Encyclopedia
William Baird Allington was an American
Minor league baseball
player and manager. Listed at 5' 9" , 160 lb., Allington batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Clair County, Michigan
.
Allington spent 31 years in baseball as a player (15), coach (4) and manager (12). He started his professional career as an outfielder
, playing from 1926 through 1940 with ten teams of four different leagues. Between 1926 and 1934, he played in the Blue Ridge League
(1926–27), Western League
(1926–28, 1930–32), Southern Association
(1929, 1933–34) and Pacific Coast League
(1929–30). He also played nine years in the California Winter League
circuit (1932–40).
Allington hit .300 or more in eight of his nine minor league years career. His most productive season came in 1931, when he led the Western League hitters with a .374 batting average
, even though he was left off of the All-Star Team after leading the league in several offensive statistics, including stolen base
s (36), triples
(23), total bases
(335) and runs scored
(167), while adding nine home run
s and 92 runs batted in. In addition, he ended fifth in doubles
(49), and his .984 fielding percentage was the second-best of any starting outfielder in the Western League that season.
Allington posted a career-average of .327 in 1145 games, including a .508 slugging percentage, and hit .273 with a .494 slugging in the California Winter League.
Following his playing career, Allington coached in the minors from 1941 to 1944, before landing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
, to become the most successful manager in the league's history. With Allington at the helm, the Rockford Peaches
reached the playoff six times, winning the AAGPBL Championship Title in 1945 and in consecutive years from 1948 to 1950. Allington later managed the Fort Wayne Daisies
in 1953 and 1954, leading them to the playoffs in both seasons.
From 1945 to 1954, Allington posted a 583-398 record for a .594 winning percentage
, never had a losing season and is the all-time leader in victories in the AAGPBL. He also was an active scout
talent for the league.
The AAGPBL folded in 1954, but the following year Allington formed two women’s touring teams called Allington’s All-Stars, a barnstorming remnant of the league. The Allington All-Stars played 100 games between 1955 and 1958, each booked in a different town, against male teams, while traveling over 10,000 miles in the manager's station wagon
and a Ford Country Sedan
. The Allington All-Stars included players as Joan Berger
, Gloria Cordes
, Jeanie Descombes
, Gertrude Dunn
, Betty Foss
, Jean Geissinger
, Katie Horstman
, Maxine Kline
, Dolores Lee
, Ruth Richard
, Dorothy Schroeder
, Jean Smith
and Joanne Weaver
, between others.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
player and manager. Listed at 5' 9" , 160 lb., Allington batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Clair County, Michigan
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
.
Allington spent 31 years in baseball as a player (15), coach (4) and manager (12). He started his professional career as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, playing from 1926 through 1940 with ten teams of four different leagues. Between 1926 and 1934, he played in the Blue Ridge League
Blue Ridge League
The Blue Ridge League was a minor league baseball organization that operated for the better part of sixteen years, from 1915 through 1918, and 1920 to 1930....
(1926–27), Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
(1926–28, 1930–32), Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
(1929, 1933–34) and Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(1929–30). He also played nine years in the California Winter League
California Winter League
California Winter League is a former baseball Winter League. It is the first integrated league in the 20th century as players from Major League Baseball and Negro League Baseball played each other in training games. The league existed for almost 50 years during the first half of the 20th century...
circuit (1932–40).
Allington hit .300 or more in eight of his nine minor league years career. His most productive season came in 1931, when he led the Western League hitters with a .374 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, even though he was left off of the All-Star Team after leading the league in several offensive statistics, including stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (36), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(23), total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(335) and runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(167), while adding nine home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 92 runs batted in. In addition, he ended fifth in doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(49), and his .984 fielding percentage was the second-best of any starting outfielder in the Western League that season.
Allington posted a career-average of .327 in 1145 games, including a .508 slugging percentage, and hit .273 with a .494 slugging in the California Winter League.
Following his playing career, Allington coached in the minors from 1941 to 1944, before landing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
, to become the most successful manager in the league's history. With Allington at the helm, the Rockford Peaches
Rockford Peaches
The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954....
reached the playoff six times, winning the AAGPBL Championship Title in 1945 and in consecutive years from 1948 to 1950. Allington later managed the Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
in 1953 and 1954, leading them to the playoffs in both seasons.
From 1945 to 1954, Allington posted a 583-398 record for a .594 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
, never had a losing season and is the all-time leader in victories in the AAGPBL. He also was an active scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
talent for the league.
The AAGPBL folded in 1954, but the following year Allington formed two women’s touring teams called Allington’s All-Stars, a barnstorming remnant of the league. The Allington All-Stars played 100 games between 1955 and 1958, each booked in a different town, against male teams, while traveling over 10,000 miles in the manager's station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
and a Ford Country Sedan
Ford Country Sedan
The Ford Country Sedan was a full-size station wagon built by the Ford Motor Company from 1952 until 1974.It was based on the Ford full-size car line available in each year. The Country Sedan was the mid-trim station wagon in the Ford range. Unlike the Country Squire, the Country Sedan featured...
. The Allington All-Stars included players as Joan Berger
Joan Berger
Joan Berger [Knebl] is a former female infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 132 lb., Berger batted and threw right handed...
, Gloria Cordes
Gloria Cordes
Gloria Cordes [Elliott] is a former starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, Jeanie Descombes
Jeanie Descombes
Jeneane Descombes Lesko is a former pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 135 lb., she batted and threw left-handed...
, Gertrude Dunn
Gertrude Dunn
Gertrude Dunn was an American baseball player with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the league made famous by the 1992 movie A League Of Their Own. She played shortstop on two teams, the Battle Creek Belles and the South Bend Blue Sox, and was named "Rookie of the Year" in . ...
, Betty Foss
Betty Foss
Betty Foss [Fossey] was a infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 10", 180 lb., she was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. She started her career as Betty Weaver but changed her last name to Foss after marrying...
, Jean Geissinger
Jean Geissinger
Jean Louise Geissinger-Harding [″Dutch″] is a former infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for the Fort Wayne Daisies and Grand Rapids Chicks...
, Katie Horstman
Katie Horstman
Catherine Horstman [″Horsey″] is a former female utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, Maxine Kline
Maxine Kline
Maxine Kline [Randall] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through with the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, Dolores Lee
Dolores Lee
Dolores Margaret Lee is a former female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 130 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
, Ruth Richard
Ruth Richard
Ruth Richard [Richie] is a former female catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 134 lb., she batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
, Dorothy Schroeder
Dorothy Schroeder
Dorothy Schroeder [″Dottie″] was a shortstop who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 150 lb., Schroeder batted and threw right-handed...
, Jean Smith
Jean Smith (baseball)
Jean Marie Smith was an outfielder and relief pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 128...
and Joanne Weaver
Joanne Weaver
Joanne Weaver [″Joltin' Jo″] was a right fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, between others.
Sources
- The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book: Comprehensive Hitting, Fielding and Pitching Statistics. – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Hardcover, 250 pp. Language: English. ISBN 978-0786405978
- Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolf. Publisher: Baseball America, 2007. Format: Paperback, 767pp. Language: English. ISBN
- The Pacific Coast League: A Statistical History, 1903-1957 – Dennis Snelling. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 1995. Format: Paperback, 392pp. Language: English. ISBN 978-0786400454
- Women in Baseball – Gai Ingham Berlage. Publisher: Praeger Trade, 1994. Format: Hardcover, 224 pp. Language: English. ISBN 0275947351