Billy McCool obit

Reds Pitcher Billy McCool has died 

He was not on the list.

McCOOL, William John 69, passed away Sunday, June 8, 2014 at his home in Summerfield, Florida. Bill was born on July 14, 1944 to Carl and Dolores McCool in Batesville, Indiana. Growing up in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Bill graduated from Lawrenceburg High School in 1962. After high school, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a left-handed pitcher in 1963.

"Cool Billy" made his major league pitching debut at the age of 19 on April 24, 1964. He was named National League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News and was named a National League All-Star in 1966. Bill met and married Carol Reuteler in 1967.

He started his pro career in 1963, playing Class-D ball for the Reds organization in Tampa, Florida and later that year made the jump to the then-Triple-A San Diego Padres.

He made his major league debut at the young age of 19 on April 24, 1964. The first batter he faced was Jesús Alou (who singled) as McCool pitched two innings in relief of Al Worthington in a 15-5 Reds loss to the San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. That year he was named The Sporting News National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

In 1965 and 1966 he was second in the National League in saves and in 1966 he was named a National League All-Star. He appeared in a career-high 62 games in 1965.

He was among the players drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. He appeared in 54 games for the Padres in their inaugural season of 1969. Just prior to the 1970 season he was traded to the Cardinals, with whom he pitched 18 games. In the offseason after the 1970 season (which would be his last in the majors, at age 25), he was traded to the Boston Red Sox and later to the Kansas City Royals, but he did not appear for either team in the majors.

After baseball, he moved to Centerville, Ohio where he raised his three children. Bill is the author of "The Billy McCool Pitching Digest: A Guide to Effective Baseball Pitching" published in 1977. In 2004, he retired and moved to Summerfield, Florida. Bill is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol (Reuteler) McCool, his three children: Angie (Chris) Smith, Megan (Lindsey) Mayo, and Andy (Teresa) McCool, and his 7 grandchildren.