Billy Ging

William Joseph Ging

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut September 25, 1899
• Final Game September 25, 1899
• Born November 7, 1872 in Elmira, NY USA
• Died September 14, 1950 in Elmira, NY USA

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Biographical Information

It's hard to fault Billy Ging for his performance. He appeared in one major league game, on September 25, 1899, with the Boston Beaneaters and went 8 innings, giving up only one run. That gave him an ERA of 1.13. True, his WHIP was a bit high at 1.250, but it was better than the team WHIP. The Beaneaters were a good team, going 95-57 and finishing second in the National League under manager Frank Selee.

Billy was three years younger than the team ace, Kid Nichols.

Ging had spent most of 1899 pitching with the New London Whalers. He continued to play in the minors through 1905.

". . . New York could not do anything with Ging, a new try from the New London Club, of the Connecticut League. Few newcomers ever made a better debut than Pitcher Ging. A few jokes were cracked about his name . . . but he clearly showed there was nothing in a name by the work he did. He . . . mixed up his balls in a commendable style. . . Boston had an option on this man but failed to avail itself of it, and it looks as if Brooklyn would get him. There are few opportunities offered nowadays to get such men as Ging for the modest price of $200. If he enters fast company and does not do well it will be a great surprise to many." - the assessment of Sporting Life's Boston correspondent in the October 7, 1899 issue

"The Boston Club has . . . let its option on pitcher Ging expire without action. The trouble in Ging's case was that his release from New London would have cost the poor Boston club $200." - Sporting Life, in the same issue as above