Billy Rhines

William Pearl Rhines
(Bunker)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 168 lb.
• School Bucknell University
• Debut April 22, 1890
• Final Game June 22, 1899
• Born March 14, 1869 in Ridgway, PA USA
• Died January 30, 1922 in Ridgway, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Billy Rhines, from whom the least was expected, proved the club's mainstay." - Sporting Life, January 14, 1893, talking about how rookie Rhines turned out to be much more valuable than a number of better known pitchers on the Cincinnati 1890 squad

Billy Rhines made a splash as a major league rookie by winning 28 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1890. Later, he went 19-10 for the Reds in 1895 and 21-15 for them in 1897.

Amos Rusie stated in 1898 that he thought manager Buck Ewing had "worked Rhines far too much" in 1897. He umpired two National League games, in 1891 and 1896.

Rhines was born, and died, in Ridgway, PA, 115 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA. He was the second major leaguer out of Bucknell University, attending that college a decade before Christy Mathewson was there.

"The Phillies felt sure they would beat any pitcher presented by Pittsburg except Rhines. They feared him. . . Rhines . . . when pitching in form uses a delivery, an underhand raise ball, which will harass the best man living. . . Veterans like Delahanty have fumed and fretted when Rhines was pushing that nasty up curve over for them." - June 3, 1899

Notable Achievements

• 2-time NL ERA Leader (1890 & 1896)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1890 & 1897)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1890, 1891, 1895, 1897 & 1898)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1890 & 1891)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1890)

Related Sites

• Billy Rhines at the SABR Bio Project