Bill Henry
Encyclopedia
William Rodman Henry is a retired American
professional baseball
player. A left-handed
pitcher
, he appeared in Major League Baseball
between and for the Boston Red Sox
, Chicago Cubs
, Cincinnati Reds
, San Francisco Giants
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, and Houston Astros
. He was nicknamed "Gabby" by teammates for his quiet nature.
After playing college baseball for the Houston Cougars
, he began his career for the Red Sox in 1952, and was primarily a starter
for the team. Henry was the first from the University of Houston's baseball history to make it to the major league. After a two year absence from the Major Leagues, he returned to MLB as a relief pitcher
for the Cubs in 1958. He would only make 2 starts the rest of his career.
As a reliever, Henry amassed 90 saves. He appeared in the 1960 All-Star Game
, and pitched in the 1961 World Series
while on the Cincinnati Reds
.
Henry was released by the Houston Astros
on June 28, 1969, ending his major league career.
Henry was a victim of identity theft
and his death was erroneously reported in August 2007 in a news story that was widely circulated. He was contacted by baseball historian David Allen Lambert who first reported his false death report to him. He currently resides in Deer Park, Texas
, near Houston
. Bill Henry's story appeared in Sports Illustrated Magazine in Rick Reilly
's Life of Reilly column entitled "The Passing of a Counterfeit Bill" (September 24, 2007, p. 76).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, he appeared in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
between and for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He was nicknamed "Gabby" by teammates for his quiet nature.
After playing college baseball for the Houston Cougars
Houston Cougars baseball
The Houston Cougars baseball team is the college baseball team of the University of Houston.Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field. In addition to numerous NCAA...
, he began his career for the Red Sox in 1952, and was primarily a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the team. Henry was the first from the University of Houston's baseball history to make it to the major league. After a two year absence from the Major Leagues, he returned to MLB as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Cubs in 1958. He would only make 2 starts the rest of his career.
As a reliever, Henry amassed 90 saves. He appeared in the 1960 All-Star Game
1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)
The second 1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 29th playing of Major League Baseball's annual midsummer exhibition game. The game took place at Yankee Stadium in New York City, New York, home of the American League's New York Yankees. The National League won the game by a score of 6-0...
, and pitched in the 1961 World Series
1961 World Series
The 1961 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds , with the Yankees winning in five games to earn their 19th championship in 39 seasons. This World Series was surrounded by Cold War political puns pitting the "Reds" against the "Yanks"...
while on the Cincinnati Reds
1961 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League pennant with a record of 93-61, four games over the runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers, but losing the World Series in five games to the New York Yankees. The Reds were managed by Fred...
.
Henry was released by the Houston Astros
1969 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros season was a season in American baseball. The team finished in fifth place in the newly established National League West with a record of 81-81, twelve games behind the Atlanta Braves...
on June 28, 1969, ending his major league career.
Henry was a victim of identity theft
Identity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
and his death was erroneously reported in August 2007 in a news story that was widely circulated. He was contacted by baseball historian David Allen Lambert who first reported his false death report to him. He currently resides in Deer Park, Texas
Deer Park, Texas
Deer Park is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city is located in Harris County and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Deer Park was 32,010....
, near Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Bill Henry's story appeared in Sports Illustrated Magazine in Rick Reilly
Rick Reilly
Richard "Rick" Paul Reilly is an American sportswriter. Long known for being the "back page" columnist for Sports Illustrated, Reilly moved to ESPN on June 1, 2008 where he is a featured columnist for ESPN.com and wrote the back page column for ESPN the Magazine...
's Life of Reilly column entitled "The Passing of a Counterfeit Bill" (September 24, 2007, p. 76).