Bill Otey

William Tilford Otey
(Steamboat Bill)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 181 lb.

• Debut September 27, 1907
• Final Game June 24, 1911
• Born December 16, 1886 in Dayton, OH USA
• Died April 22, 1931 in Dayton, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Steamboat Bill Otey pitched three seasons in the majors. At age 20, he was one of the youngest players on the 1907 Pirates, where a teammate was the 33-year-old Honus Wagner. Later, during his two seasons with the Washington Senators, he pitched in 21 games for teams that also included the young Walter Johnson.

His one major league victory occurred on May 13, 1911, against the 1913 White Sox. The White Sox had jumped out to a lead off the Senators' starting pitcher Dixie Walker (the first "Dixie Walker"). Bill came in to relieve in the sixth inning and held the White Sox to only one more run in the last 3 1/3 innings while the Senator scored six more runs to win.

Otey was born, and died, in Dayton, OH. He also played several season in the minors with the Dayton Veterans, but most of the first half of his career was spent with the Norfolk Tars. At age 19, he went 19-11 for the Tars. Three years later he won 18 games for them.