‘King Of Baseball’ Bill Valentine Dies
by April 26, 2015 1:27 pm 335 views
From our content partner, KATV Channel 7.
William Terry “Bill” Valentine, Jr., 82, of Little Rock, died on April 26, 2015. Born on November 21, 1932, Bill had a long and storied career in baseball.
He spent 18 years as an umpire in various professional leagues, culminating with five years in the American League. He holds the distinction as one of the only two umpires who ever threw Mickey Mantle out of a ballgame.
Bill served as general manager of the Arkansas Travelers Baseball team for 33 years, initiating many creative offerings to increase attendance and bring families to what he called “the greatest show on dirt.”
In 2014, the National Association of Minor League Baseball Teams proclaimed him “The King of Baseball”, a ceremonial title awarded to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.
He was also inducted in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas League Hall of Fame.