Billy Harrell

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Billy Harrell

|image=Billy Harrell 1961.JPG

|width=

|position=Infielder

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date|1928|7|18}}

|birth_place=Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2014|5|06|1928|7|18}}

|death_place= Albany, New York, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 2

|debutyear=1955

|debutteam=Cleveland Indians

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 20

|finalyear=1961

|finalteam=Boston Red Sox

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.231

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=8

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=26

|teams=

Cleveland Indians (1955, 1957–1958)
Boston Red Sox (1961)

}}

William Harrell (July 18, 1928 – May 6, 2014) was an American reserve infielder in Major League Baseball who played between 1955 and 1961 for the Cleveland Indians (1955, 1957–1958) and Boston Red Sox (1961). Listed at {{convert|6|ft|1|in}}, {{convert|180|lb}}, Harrell batted and threw right-handed.

Harrell attended Siena College, and began his professional career with the Negro league Birmingham Black Barons in 1951.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.nlbpa.com/the-athletes/harrell-billy |title=Billy Harrell |publisher=nlbpa.com |date= |accessdate=August 4, 2020}}{{cite web|author=Brian Engelhardt |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/billy-harrell/ |title=Billy Harrell |publisher=sabr.org |date= |accessdate=August 4, 2020}} He was signed by Cleveland in 1952.

In a four-season career, Harrell was a .231 hitter (79-for-342) with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 173 games, including 54 runs, seven doubles, one triple, and 17 stolen bases. In 151 games as an infielder, he appeared at shortstop (77), third base (62), second (8) and first (3), and also played right field in one game, posting a collective fielding percentage of .952.

After finishing his professional playing career in the Red Sox farm system in 1966, Harrell briefly served as a Boston scout.

In 1966, Harrell became the third alumnus to be inducted into the Siena Athletics Hall of Fame.

In 2000, Harrell was named by Times Union as one of the top 10 athletes for the Capital Region for the 20th Century.

Basketball

Harrell played college basketball for Siena College{{cite news |title=Billy Harrell to leave many records at Siena |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-record-billy-harrell-to-leave/150090970/ |access-date=26 June 2024 |work=The Times Record |date=12 February 1952 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} where he left as the schools all time leader in career points.{{cite news |title=Indianapolis drafts Harrell; NBA bars order of selection |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-troy-record-indianapolis-drafts-harr/150090854/ |access-date=26 June 2024 |work=The Troy Record |date=28 April 1952 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} He was drafted by the Indianapolis Olympians in the 1952 NBA draft{{cite news |title=Billy Harrell drafted by Indianapolis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bennington-evening-banner-billy-harr/150090695/ |access-date=26 June 2024 |work=The Bennington Evening Banner |date=28 April 1952 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} and later played professional basketball for the Lenox Merchants in the 1950s.{{cite news |title=Harrell to be given day sunday afternoon at Armory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115503032/harrell-to-be-given-day-sunday/ |access-date=31 December 2022 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |date=5 March 1954 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Roger O'Gara |title=Harrell stars on his day in leading Merchants to 93-84 win over Rens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115503120/harrell-stars-on-his-day-in-leading/ |access-date=31 December 2022 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |date=8 March 1954 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} On January 13, 2006, Harrell became the first Siena Saints basketball player to have his jersey number (#10) retired by the school.

Death

Harrell died May 6, 2014, at his home in Albany, New York. He was 85.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Siena-legend-Harrell-dies-at-85-5458551.php |title=Siena Legend Harrell dies at 85 |last=Singelais |first=Mark |date=May 6, 2014 |work=Times Union |accessdate=May 6, 2014}} he was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York.