| Bill Steinecke | |
|---|---|
| Catcher | |
| Born:(1907-02-07)February 7, 1907 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: July 20, 1986(1986-07-20) (aged 79) Saint Augustine, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 16, 1931, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 24, 1931, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games played | 4 |
| At bats | 4 |
| Hits | 0 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
William Robert Steinecke (February 7, 1907 – July 20, 1986) was an American professionalbaseballcatcher andmanager. A native ofCincinnati who attendedDePaul University, Steinecke spent almost 40 years in uniform, but only four games inMajor League Baseball (with the1931Pittsburgh Pirates). He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (173 cm) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg) as an active player.
Steinecke's playing career began in1925 with theRock Island Islanders of the Class DMississippi Valley League. Afterbatting .361 for theBinghamton Triplets of the Class BNew York–Pennsylvania League — and being elected the loop's all-star catcher for 1931 — Steinecke received his Pittsburgh trial. In four games and fourat bats between September 16 and September 24, 1931, he went hitless. By the opening of the1932 season, he was back at Binghamton. Steinecke achieved his most sustained success in the New York–Penn League of the 1930s (now theEastern League), batting over .300 in six different seasons. In his best campaign,1936 for theWilliamsport Grays, Steinecke batted .349 with 110runs batted in in 132 games played. All told, he appeared in 1,907minor league games over 21 different seasons, batting .297 with 57home runs and 855 RBI.
Steinecke's long minor-league managerial career began in1937 in the Class BSally League, and from 1946 to 1964 he skippered clubs in the lower minors. He joined theMilwaukee Bravesfarm system in1955 and continued with the Braves through the middle of1964. (As manager of the Class DMcCook Braves of theNebraska State League, he was a figure in former bonus-babypitcherPat Jordan's memoir,A False Spring.) He then served as ascout for the Braves andMontreal Expos. Steinecke died at age 79 inSaint Augustine, Florida.