- Billy Rhiel
Infobox MLB retired
name=Billy Rhiel
position=Second Baseman /Third Baseman
bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=August 16 ,1900
deathdate=death date and age|1946|8|16|1900|8|16
debutdate=April 20
debutyear= 1929
debutteam= Brooklyn Robins
finaldate=July 9
finalyear=1933
finalteam=Detroit Tigers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.266
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=7
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=68
teams=
* Brooklyn Robins (1929)
* Boston Braves (1930)
*Detroit Tigers (1932-1933)
highlights=William Joseph Rhiel (
August 16 ,1900 –August 16 ,1946 ) was a second and third baseman in major league baseball who played four seasons with the Brooklyn Robins, Boston Braves, andDetroit Tigers in the late 1920s and early '30s.cite web | url = http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rhielbi01.shtml | title = Player Page | publisher = Baseball Reference | accessdate = 2007-11-10]Early years
Rhiel was born in
Youngstown, Ohio , to William J. and Mary Lyden Rhiel. He attended local schools includingImmaculate Conception Elementary School and Rayen High School.cite news
title = William J. Rhiel Dies, Was Grid, Diamond Star
publisher = "The Youngstown Vindicator"
date =August 17 ,1946
accessdate = ] Rhiel gained early recognition as a player for a semi-professional football team associated with St. Edward's Church, in Youngstown. After graduating fromNewberry College , inSouth Carolina , where he was a star football player, Rhiel joined an Atlantafarm team , where he took the position of second baseman.Professional career
Rhiel made his professional debut with the Brooklyn Robins on
April 20 ,1929 . In July of that year, "The New York Times " reported that Rhiel smacked a seventh-inning home run in a match with thePittsburgh Pirates that gave the Robins a 10-7 victory.cite news
title = Rhiel's Homer Wins for Robins
publisher = "The New York Times"
date =July 24 ,1929
accessdate = ] He moved to the Boston Braves the following year. Rhiel also played withPortland, Oregon , in the Coast League, andMontreal , in theInternational League . He spent his final two seasons with theDetroit Tigers and played his final major league game onJuly 9 ,1933 . He played briefly for the minor leagueToledo Mud Hens before ending his professional baseball career.cite web | url = http://www.mudhens.com/info/all_time_roster.asp?view=2&type=L&letter=R | title = Toledo Mud Hens Home Page | publisher = Toledo Mud Hens | accessdate = 2007-11-10]Later years
After ending his career as a ballplayer, Rhiel returned to his native
Ohio , where he settled in the city of Warren. There, he served for 10 years as director of the Junior Baseball League of theAmerican Legion and manager of Warren's Class D baseball team. He also managed the V.F.W. Canteen in Warren, a position he held for 10 years at the time of his death.Rhiel suffered a fatal
heart attack at the home of his sister in 1946. His funeral Mass was held atSt. Brendan 's Church, in Youngstown.References
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