Bill Kunkel
Born: 7/7/1936 in Hoboken, NJ, USA
Died: 5/4/1985 in Red Bank, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1961-04-15 | Final Game: 1963-09-21
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 187 lbs
Full name: William Gustave James Kunkel
Biography
Bill Kunkel was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1961 to 1963. Born in 1936, Kunkel made his mark in a period characterized by the transition away from the deadball era and the emergence of a more offense-driven game. Over the course of his career, he compiled a win-loss record of 6-6, demonstrating his competitiveness on the mound. Kunkel recorded an earned run average (ERA) of 4.29, alongside 83 strikeouts and 4 saves, showcasing his ability to both start games and come in for late-inning relief.
Kunkel's playing style was defined by his versatility as a pitcher, allowing him to adapt to various roles within a team's pitching staff. His contributions during his short career left a lasting impression, as he became one of the many players who navigated the complexities of a rapidly evolving game during the early 1960s. After his retirement from professional play on September 21, 1963, Kunkel remained a part of baseball history, remembered for his performances during a pivotal time in the sport.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 89 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 142.7 | 153 | 68 | 17 | 49 | 83 | 4.29 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | KC1 | AL | 3 | 4 | 58 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 88.7 | 103 | 51 | 32 | 46 | 5.18 | -463.9 |
| 1962 | KC1 | AL | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3.52 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | NYY | AL | 3 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46.3 | 42 | 14 | 13 | 31 | 2.72 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.214 | 0.312 | 0.214 | 0.527 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | KC1 | AL | 58 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1962 | KC1 | AL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | NYY | AL | 22 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 89 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 3 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | KC1 | P | 58 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| 1962 | KC1 | P | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | NYA | P | 22 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 89 |