Billy Raimondi

Billy Raimondi
Raimondi c. 1947
Catcher
Born: (1912-12-01)December 1, 1912 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died: October 18, 2010(2010-10-18) (aged 97) Alameda, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Teams
As player Oakland Oaks (1932–1935, 1937–1949) Sacramento Solons (1949–1950) Los Angeles Angels (1951–1953) As manager Oakland Oaks (1945) Magic Valley Cowboys (1956)
Member of the Pacific Coast League
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1951

William Louis Raimondi (December 1, 1912 – October 18, 2010) was an American professional baseball catcher. He played in Minor League Baseball for 22 years, including 21 years in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). He played for the Oakland Oaks from 1932 to 1949, the Sacramento Solons from 1949 to 1950, and the Los Angeles Angels from 1951 to 1953. Raimondi is a member of the PCL Hall of Fame, elected in 1951.

Raimondi was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. After a standout baseball career at McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Raimondi signed with the Oaks of the PCL. He tried out with the Cincinnati Reds for the 1936 season, but an arm injury prevented him from playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). Raimondi returned to the Oaks in 1937, and declined further opportunities from MLB clubs to stay close to home. He served as the interim manager of the Oaks during the 1945 season. A year after winning the PCL championship with the 1948 Oaks under Casey Stengel, Chuck Dressen traded Raimondi to Sacramento, where he became a player-coach during the 1950 season. Signing with the Angels in 1951, Raimondi served as a backup catcher and coach through the 1953 season, when he retired.

After his playing career, Raimondi served as a scout for the Chicago Cubs organization and managed the Magic Valley Cowboys for part of the 1956 season. He lived in Alameda, California, for the remainder of his life.