Billy Hitchcock
Born: 7/31/1916 in Inverness, AL, USA
Died: 4/9/2006 in Opelika, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1942-04-14 | Final Game: 1953-08-27
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: William Clyde Hitchcock
Biography
Billy Hitchcock was a professional baseball player born in 1916, who played in Major League Baseball from 1942 until his retirement on August 27, 1953. Primarily a position player, Hitchcock appeared in 703 games throughout his career, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the game. He achieved a total of 547 hits, contributing to a career batting average of .243. Over the course of his time in the league, he hit 5 home runs and drove in 257 runs, while also stealing 15 bases, demonstrating his ability to impact the game both offensively and on the basepaths.
Hitchcock's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the challenges of World War II and the subsequent integration of the sport. Despite the tumultuous era, he carved out a niche for himself in the league, known for his solid defensive skills and reliable presence on the field. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees, solidified his legacy as a dedicated player who navigated the complexities of baseball during a significant time in the sport's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 703 | 2249 | 231 | 547 | 67 | 22 | 5 | 257 | 15 | 206 | 230 | 0.243 | 0.310 | 0.299 | 0.609 | -5581.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | DET | AL | 85 | 280 | 27 | 59 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 26 | 21 | 0.211 | -1038.9 |
| 1946 | DET | AL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1946 | WSN | AL | 98 | 354 | 27 | 75 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 26 | 52 | 0.212 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | SLA | AL | 80 | 275 | 25 | 61 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 3 | 21 | 34 | 0.222 | -1270.1 |
| 1948 | BOS | AL | 49 | 124 | 15 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0.298 | -27.7 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 55 | 147 | 22 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 0.204 | -636.7 |
| 1950 | PHA | AL | 115 | 399 | 35 | 109 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 54 | 3 | 45 | 32 | 0.273 | -424.0 |
| 1951 | PHA | AL | 77 | 222 | 27 | 68 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 0.306 | 293.2 |
| 1952 | PHA | AL | 119 | 407 | 45 | 100 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 56 | 1 | 39 | 45 | 0.246 | -880.7 |
| 1953 | DET | AL | 22 | 38 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.211 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 48 | 0 | 406 | 30 | 6 | 41 |
| 2B | 201 | 0 | 524 | 561 | 35 | 169 |
| 3B | 240 | 0 | 260 | 502 | 50 | 56 |
| SS | 142 | 0 | 284 | 361 | 32 | 72 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | DET | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | DET | SS | 80 | 0 | 157 | 199 | 21 | 39 |
| 1946 | DET | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | WS1 | 3B | 46 | 0 | 53 | 87 | 12 | 7 |
| 1946 | WS1 | SS | 53 | 0 | 112 | 142 | 9 | 27 |
| 1947 | SLA | 1B | 5 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1947 | SLA | 2B | 46 | 0 | 127 | 127 | 6 | 31 |
| 1947 | SLA | 3B | 17 | 0 | 25 | 42 | 5 | 5 |
| 1947 | SLA | SS | 7 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 1 | 5 |
| 1948 | BOS | 2B | 15 | 0 | 31 | 47 | 4 | 12 |
| 1948 | BOS | 3B | 15 | 0 | 23 | 35 | 0 | 3 |
| 1949 | BOS | 1B | 29 | 0 | 256 | 15 | 2 | 28 |
| 1949 | BOS | 2B | 8 | 0 | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 |
| 1950 | PHA | 2B | 107 | 0 | 297 | 319 | 21 | 105 |
| 1950 | PHA | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | PHA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1951 | PHA | 2B | 23 | 0 | 47 | 51 | 3 | 16 |
| 1951 | PHA | 3B | 45 | 0 | 45 | 99 | 11 | 14 |
| 1952 | PHA | 1B | 13 | 0 | 97 | 13 | 2 | 8 |
| 1952 | PHA | 3B | 104 | 0 | 105 | 222 | 20 | 26 |
| 1953 | DET | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | DET | 3B | 12 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| 1953 | DET | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 48 |
| Second Base | 201 |
| Third Base | 240 |
| Shortstop | 142 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn | AL | 1936, 1937, 1938 |