Billy Scripture

Earl Wayne Scripture Jr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 180 lb.
• School Wake Forest University
• High School Princess Anne High School
• Born November 20, 1941 in Pensacola, FL USA
• Died November 11, 2018 in Elizabeth City, NC USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Billy Scripture was a college star who later played and managed in the minor leagues for over 15 years.

He was an outstanding collegiate player for Wake Forest University in 1962-64. He was named an ABCA All-American outfielder as both a sophomore and junior. He was the oldest player named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary All-Time team.

Scripture played minor league ball from 1964 to 1972. He debuted professionally with the Stockton Ports, hitting .242 with 40 RBI and 11 home runs, the most he would hit in his minor league tenure. In 1965, Billy batted .242 with 8 HR and 86 RBI for the Tri-City Atoms as they won the Northwest League pennant. He tied Bill F. Southworth for 6th in the NWL in RBI.

Scripture split 1966 between Stockton (.253/.339/.399 in 74 games) and the Miami Marlins (.288/.373/.351 in 55 games. In 1967, Billy was with the Elmira Pioneers, hitting .257/.349/.317. He led the Eastern League in times hit by pitch (16) and led the EL's third basemen in assists (266), double plays (25) and fielding percentage (.949). Given that it was the heart of a pitchers' era, he just missed the top 10 in the EL in average, trailing #10 Bobby Bonds by .004. He was named to the EL All-Star team at third base.

In 1968, Scripture made it to AAA with the Rochester Red Wings and hit .230/.307/.332 in 121 games, back in the outfield primarily. In 1969, Billy batted .265/.362/.392 for Rochester. He then moved to the New York Mets chain. Scripture hit .276/.389/.441 in 152 AB for the Tidewater Tides, as a backup 3B-OF and a top pinch-hitter. He also pitched two games, allowing five runs, 4 hits and 3 walks in two innings of work. He saw even less playing time in the field in 1971, getting 80 at-bats in 57 games and hitting .250/.375/.475. Scripture wrapped up as a player in 1972, hitting .213/.260/.255 in 32 games for the Tides.

The next year, Scripture began a minor league managerial career that lasted seven years.

Sources include 1967-1973 Baseball Guides, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1973	Waterloo Royals	Midwest League	64-56	4th	Kansas City Royals
1974	GCL Royals	Gulf Coast League	29-19	4th	Kansas City Royals	none
1975	Jacksonville Suns	Southern League	59-79	8th	Kansas City Royals
1976	Jacksonville Suns	Southern League	66-72	6th	Kansas City Royals
1977	GCL Royals	Gulf Coast League	34-19	2nd	Kansas City Royals	none
1978	Charleston Pirates	Western Carolinas League	47-93	6th	Pittsburgh Pirates
1984	Nashua Pirates	Eastern League	58-82	7th	Pittsburgh Pirates