Major League Baseball Player. He pitched for Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates during a thirteen year career (1954, 1956-1967). Born William Oliver O'Dell, he pitched at Clemson University before the Baltimore Orioles signed the left-hander as a "bonus baby" in 1954. For Clemson, he was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference, second team All-American and a member of the Third District NCAA All-Star team. He opted to leave Clemson after his junior year, already being pursued by a number of Major League scouts. He pitched briefly for the Orioles in 1954 and missed the next season due to military service. He rejoined the Orioles in 1956 and pitched for them for the next four seasons before being traded in November of 1959 to the San Francisco Giants. While with the Orioles, he earned a save in the 1958 All-Star Game and went 14-11 with an 2.97 ERA (Earned Run Average) that year. In 1959, he had the highest strikeout to walk ratio (2.69) across Major League Baseball. He pitched for the Giants for five years before joining the Milwaukee Braves in 1965. In 1962, he had a 19-win season with the Giants and was a part of their National League championship-winning team that year. He finished his career playing for both the Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching mostly in relief from 1965-67. The lefty's final game was on Sept. 12, 1967, for the Pirates and he retired after that season. He had a career 3.29 ERA and a 105-100 career record with 48 saves, 1,133 strikeouts over 479 games.
Major League Baseball Player. He pitched for Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates during a thirteen year career (1954, 1956-1967). Born William Oliver O'Dell, he pitched at Clemson University before the Baltimore Orioles signed the left-hander as a "bonus baby" in 1954. For Clemson, he was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference, second team All-American and a member of the Third District NCAA All-Star team. He opted to leave Clemson after his junior year, already being pursued by a number of Major League scouts. He pitched briefly for the Orioles in 1954 and missed the next season due to military service. He rejoined the Orioles in 1956 and pitched for them for the next four seasons before being traded in November of 1959 to the San Francisco Giants. While with the Orioles, he earned a save in the 1958 All-Star Game and went 14-11 with an 2.97 ERA (Earned Run Average) that year. In 1959, he had the highest strikeout to walk ratio (2.69) across Major League Baseball. He pitched for the Giants for five years before joining the Milwaukee Braves in 1965. In 1962, he had a 19-win season with the Giants and was a part of their National League championship-winning team that year. He finished his career playing for both the Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching mostly in relief from 1965-67. The lefty's final game was on Sept. 12, 1967, for the Pirates and he retired after that season. He had a career 3.29 ERA and a 105-100 career record with 48 saves, 1,133 strikeouts over 479 games.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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