Famous Baseball Alumni
Williams alums have figured prominently throughout baseball history. Williams has nine alums that played in the Major Leagues, as well as many other important figures in the game.
George Steinbrenner ’52 owned the New York Yankees from 1973 until his death in 2009. By any measure he was one of the most successful and important team owners in baseball history. Steinbrenner’s Yankees won seven World Series, built a new and improved Yankee Stadium, and was a trailblazer in the business of baseball. The Yankees are still an immensely successful family business – and the team is now run by his son Hal Steinbrenner (Williams ’91). In 1988, Steinbrenner lead an alumni fundraising effort for a new track and baseball field.
CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE ABOUT STEINBRENNER’S CONNECTION TO WILLIAMS
Bob Nutting ’84 is the owner of the Pittsburg Pirates. He is the long-time owner of the Ogden Newspaper chain (which includes fifty daily newspapers and number of magazines) and became principal owner of the Pirates in 2007.
CLICKHERE TO READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE WILLIAMS ALUMNI REVIEW ABOUT NUTTING’S OWNERSHIP OF THE PIRATES
Fay Vincent ’60 served as Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1989 to 1992. He is known to baseball fans as the “last true Commissioner.” During his first year as Commissioner, he helped baseball and the San Francisco Bay Area recover after an historic earthquake hit the area and temporarily suspended the World Series. An active and engaged alum, Vincent appeared with sportscaster Bob Costas at Williams for “A Conversation About Sports” in October 2007. In 2008 he made a major gift to Williams to endow a new fellowship.
CLICK HERE TO READ AN ARTICLE FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED ABOUT VINCENT’S LEADERSHIP AS COMMISSIONER
Did you know that nine Williams ballplayers played in the Major Leagues? It was a while ago – between 1899 and 1934. Thanks to some terrific research and writing by Rory Costello ’84, you can learn all about them and pick up a lot of great insight and tidbits about baseball in the early days of the 20th century. He also includes an Afterward with additional info about other Ephs who made an impact on the game even if they didn’t make it to the Major Leagues. Costello is an editor for the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR).