Bill Renna

William Beneditto Renna
(Big Bill)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 218 lb.
• Schools University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, Menlo College
• High School Hanford Union High School
• Debut April 14, 1953
• Final Game May 20, 1959
• Born October 14, 1924 in Hanford, CA USA
• Died June 19, 2014 in San Jose, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Big, powerful Bill Renna played six years in the American League. As a 28 year-old rookie in 1953, he hit .314 in 61 games for the New York Yankees, while in 1958, playing for the Boston Red Sox, he slugged .571 in 39 games.

Born in California, attended the University of San Francisco in 1943 and after serving in the military during World War II, was at Santa Clara University from 1947 to 1949. He was signed by the Yankees in 1949 and immediately slugged .667 in the Pioneer League.

Renna's minor league career went through 1959. He hit 20+ home runs five times in the minors.

An article [1] says Bill played football, baseball and basketball in high school. At USF, he played football and baseball and then was in the service. He attended Menlo College and then Santa Clara where he was a football star. In 1955 he was chosen Menlo's all-time top athlete.

After baseball he worked in the concrete business.

Notable Achievements

• Won a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1953 (he did not play in the World Series)

Related Sites

• Bill Renna at the SABR Bio Project