Billy Hitchcock
William Clyde Hitchcock ( born July 31, 1916 in Inverness, Alabama, † April 9, 2006 in Opelika, Alabama) was an American baseball player, manager and coach.
Hitchcock graduated from Auburn University. He was active as a player nine years in the American League. 1942 had the infielder his playing career with the Detroit Tigers interrupt, because he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served three years during World War II in the Pacific and returned 1946-1953 in the Major League. In 703 games, he scored five home runs for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics.
Between 1954 and 1961 he worked as a manager and at the same time 1955-1960 as a coach for Detroit. Hitchcock was later Manager 1962-1963 for the Baltimore Orioles.
The season 1966 he started as a coach for the Atlanta Braves under Bobby Bragan was, however, released a short time later because the Braves only won 52 of the first 111 games. Between 1968 and 1971 he was a scout for the Montreal Expos.
During his time as president of the Southern League from 1971 to 1980, the number of audience of 333,500 (1971 ) increased to over 1.7 million (1980). The League trophy bears Hitchcock's name.
Auburn named in 2003 in his honor at the ballpark in Hitchcock Field.