Bill Antonello

William James Antonello

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut April 30, 1953
• Final Game September 27, 1953
• Born May 19, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY USA
• Died March 4, 1993 in Fridley, MN USA

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Biographical Information

Before embarking on a baseball career, Brooklyn native Bill Antonello served in the Navy during World War II. He joined the Navy in New York City, on June 22, 1944, at 17 and on July 5, 1944, went to the United States Naval Training Center in Sampson, NY for boot camp. He served in the Pacific with the USS Bonhomme Richard, a carrier which was later converted to a troop ship to bring troops home from the Pacific, and the USS Los Angeles, a cruiser. He was discharged on June 22, 1946, in Lido Beach, NY, with a rating of Seaman First Class.

In 1946, outfielder Antonello was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent and played for the Daytona Beach Islanders in the Class D Florida State League. In 1947, he played for the Newport News Dodgers in the Class B Piedmont League and in 1948 was with the Greenville Greenies in the Class D Coastal Plain League and the Greenville Spinners in the Class A South Atlantic League. He was then with the Mobile Bears in the Class AA Southern Association in 1949 and spent the next year with the Hollywood Stars in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and St. Paul Saints in the Class AAA American Association. He remained at St. Paul for the 1951 season and was back in Mobile for the 1952 season.

He made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 30, 1953 and spent the entire season with the team, appearing in 40 games. The Dodgers went to the World Series, but Antonello did not play in any of the games. In 1954, he was back with Mobile and St. Paul, and he played in the minor leagues until 1957, never making it back to The Show. After his career ended, Antonello settled in Minnesota and became a pipe fitter. He died after suffering a heart attack while driving and is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Bill Antonello