Bill Herring
Encyclopedia
William Arthur "Bill" Herring (born September 24, 1912) was a minor league baseball
pitcher
, player-manager and general manager
.
but decided to pursue a baseball career. He debuted in 1935 with the Portsmouth Truckers
of the Piedmont League
. He played three seasons in Portsmouth, going 29-29 on the mound and posting a .281 batting average
at the plate in 1937.
. 1938 saw Herring in Ayden
, and in 1939, he pitched for Kinston. In Kinston
, Herring was called on to take over as player-manager for Snake Henry
, who had been suspended for a year after an ugly on-field altercation with an umpire. He rose to the challenge by leading the Eagles to a 43-29 record after he took over, and he helped himself out by going 22-11 with a 1.94 ERA
. When he took over, Herring's team was in last place. At the end of the year, they advanced to the championship round of the playoffs only to lose to Williamston.
1940 turned out to be a disappointing campaign for Herring, who went 3-7 for Milwaukee Brewers
and Montreal
. The next two seasons were spent with the Wilson Tobs
where he compiled a 32-7 record with an ERA under 3.00, helping Wilson achieve a Coastal Plain League championship as a player-manager in 1941. Hinting at his future career path in the front office, Herring also held the position of club president.
After an 8-5 season with Portland
of the Pacific Coast League
and some service in the Navy
during World War II
, Herring returned for another stint in the Coastal Plain League. This time he played for the Goldsboro Goldbugs
, where he had the last three great seasons of his playing career going 54-24 with an ERA under 2.50. He also served as Goldsboro's general manager.
Herring finished up his playing career with seasons in Pensacola
, Wilson, Panama City
, and St. Petersburg
. He ended his career with 187 minor league wins.
Herring became the General Manager for the Western League
Lincoln Chiefs in 1954. In 1955, he returned to managing with the Piedmont League's Norfolk Tars
. He later joined the Cleveland Indians
organization, where he served two stints as manager of the Burlington Indians in 1961 and 1964. He then served as a scout for the New York Mets
from 1965 until 1973.
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...
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...
, player-manager and general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
.
Early life
Herring was born in Seven Springs, South Carolina and graduated with a law degree from Wake ForestWake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
but decided to pursue a baseball career. He debuted in 1935 with the Portsmouth Truckers
Portsmouth Truckers
The Portsmouth Truckers were a Virginia League baseball team based in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA that existed on-and-off from 1895 to 1928. They also played in the Piedmont League in 1935, when they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs....
of the Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
. He played three seasons in Portsmouth, going 29-29 on the mound and posting a .281 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 :...
at the plate in 1937.
Career
The next two seasons were spent in the Coastal Plain LeagueCoastal Plain League (Class D)
The Coastal Plain League was a minor league baseball affiliation which, except for the war years , operated in North Carolina from 1937 to 1952. It was classified as a "D" league. It grew out of a semi-pro league that operated from 1934 to 1936 under the same Coastal Plain League name.- Coastal...
. 1938 saw Herring in Ayden
Ayden, North Carolina
Ayden is a town in Pitt County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,622 at the 2000 census and the 2007 estimated population was 5,005...
, and in 1939, he pitched for Kinston. In Kinston
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
, Herring was called on to take over as player-manager for Snake Henry
Snake Henry
Frederick Marshall "Snake" Henry was a major league baseball first baseman and minor league manager....
, who had been suspended for a year after an ugly on-field altercation with an umpire. He rose to the challenge by leading the Eagles to a 43-29 record after he took over, and he helped himself out by going 22-11 with a 1.94 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. When he took over, Herring's team was in last place. At the end of the year, they advanced to the championship round of the playoffs only to lose to Williamston.
1940 turned out to be a disappointing campaign for Herring, who went 3-7 for Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
and Montreal
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
. The next two seasons were spent with the Wilson Tobs
Wilson Tobs
The Wilson Tobs are an amateur baseball team playing in the Coastal Plain League, an NCAA-sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league. The team plays its home games at Historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina. The Tobs were one of the original teams in the Coastal Plain League when the...
where he compiled a 32-7 record with an ERA under 3.00, helping Wilson achieve a Coastal Plain League championship as a player-manager in 1941. Hinting at his future career path in the front office, Herring also held the position of club president.
After an 8-5 season with Portland
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the 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...
and some service in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Herring returned for another stint in the Coastal Plain League. This time he played for the Goldsboro Goldbugs
Goldsboro Goldbugs
The Goldsboro Goldbugs were an Eastern Carolina League and Coastal Plain League baseball team based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA. Don Heffner is one athlete who played for them....
, where he had the last three great seasons of his playing career going 54-24 with an ERA under 2.50. He also served as Goldsboro's general manager.
Herring finished up his playing career with seasons in Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Wilson, Panama City
Panama City Fliers
The Panama City Fliers were a minor league baseball team based in Panama City, Florida that operated in the Alabama-Florida League. They were founded in 1951 as an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. In 1958 they were affiliated with the San Francisco Giants and they ended up as an affiliate of the...
, and St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Saints
The St. Petersburg Saints were a minor league baseball team that operated out of St.Petersburg, Florida. The team began as a semi-pro team and as early as October 1908, the semi-pro Saints played the Cincinnati Reds in a post-season exhibition game. By 1914, the Saints were receiving regular...
. He ended his career with 187 minor league wins.
Herring became the General Manager for the 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...
Lincoln Chiefs in 1954. In 1955, he returned to managing with the Piedmont League's Norfolk Tars
Norfolk Tars
The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955, and from 1934...
. He later joined the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
organization, where he served two stints as manager of the Burlington Indians in 1961 and 1964. He then served as a scout for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
from 1965 until 1973.