39 Facts About Bill Virdon

William Charles Virdon was an American professional baseball outfielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball.

Bill Virdon played in MLB for the St Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 through 1965 and in 1968.

Bill Virdon served as a coach for the Pirates and Houston Astros, and managed the Pirates, Astros, New York Yankees, and Montreal Expos.

Bill Virdon slumped at the beginning of the 1956 season, and was traded to the Pirates, where he spent the remainder of his playing career.

Bill Virdon managed in the minor leagues until returning to the Pirates as a coach in 1968.

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Bill Virdon served as manager of the Pirates in 1972 and 1973, before becoming the manager of the Yankees in 1974.

Bill Virdon won The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award in 1974, his only full season working for the Yankees, and in 1980, while managing the Astros.

Bill Virdon returned to the Pirates as a coach following his managerial career, and remained with the Pirates as a guest instructor during spring training.

William Charles Bill Virdon was born in Hazel Park, Michigan, on June 9,1931.

Bill Virdon competed in American football, basketball, and track and field for the school.

Bill Virdon attended an open tryout held by the New York Yankees in Branson, Missouri, and scout Tom Greenwade signed Bill Virdon to the Yankees for a $1,800 signing bonus.

Bill Virdon played for the Norfolk Tars in the Class B Piedmont League in 1951, and for the Binghamton Triplets in the Class A Eastern League in 1952.

When Kansas City manager Harry Craft noticed Bill Virdon reading while wearing glasses, Craft told him to wear them while he played.

Bill Virdon remained stuck behind Mickey Mantle on the Yankees' depth chart for center field, while Gene Woodling and Hank Bauer played the corner outfield positions.

Bill Virdon struggled during spring training, and Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky worked with Bill Virdon to improve his hitting.

Bill Virdon joined the Cardinals in 1955, as the Cardinals moved Stan Musial to first base to allow Bill Virdon to play the outfield.

Bill Virdon was named the winner of the National League Rookie of the Year Award, voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, beating Jack Meyer of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bill Virdon's vision improved, and he challenged Hank Aaron for the NL batting title.

Pirates hired Danny Murtaugh as their manager during the 1957 season; Bill Virdon credited Murtaugh with pushing him to perform at his best.

Bill Virdon led all NL center fielders in assists in 1959 with 16, and in double plays turned with five.

Bill Virdon led the NL in triples with 10 during the 1962 season.

Bill Virdon coached in the Florida Instructional League following the 1964 season.

Bill Virdon joined the Pirates' major league coaching staff under manager Larry Shepard in 1968.

Bill Virdon appeared in six games as a player because a number of Pirates players had entered military service.

Bill Virdon coached for the Pirates as they won the 1971 World Series.

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Bill Virdon led the Yankees to a competitive finish, one game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East division.

Bill Virdon received a death threat due to his preference of playing Elliott Maddox over Murcer in center field.

Bill Virdon led the Astros to third-place finishes in 1976 and 1977, but the Astros slipped to fifth place in 1978.

Bill Virdon was fired during the season and replaced by Bob Lillis.

Gary Lucas, a pitcher for the Expos, felt that they had lost many one-run games because Bill Virdon was too conservative in his managing, not employing the hit and run play and relying on the starting pitcher for too long into the game.

Bill Virdon returned to the Pirates as the hitting coach under Jim Leyland in 1986, Leyland's first season as a manager.

Bill Virdon took the position only when he was convinced that he would not succeed Leyland should the Pirates fire him.

Bill Virdon remained with the Pirates as a minor league hitting instructor from 1987 through 1989.

Bill Virdon worked as a spring training instructor for the Cardinals in 1990 and 1991, and then rejoined Leyland's coaching staff in Pittsburgh in 1992.

In 1994, Bill Virdon interviewed with the Orioles for their vacant managerial position.

Bill Virdon became the bench coach for the Astros under first-time manager Larry Dierker in 1997.

Bill Virdon managed in the minor leagues for the Cardinals and the Astros.

Bill Virdon continued to serve as a special outfield instructor for the Pirates during spring training.

Bill Virdon was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, and named a Missouri Sports Legend by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.