Will Koenigsmark

Willis Thomas Koenigsmark
Previously known as William

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut September 10, 1919
• Final Game September 10, 1919
• Born February 27, 1896 in Waterloo, IL USA
• Died July 1, 1972 in Belleville, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Will Koenigsmark was an Illinois boy who was born in Waterloo, IL, less than 25 miles from St. Louis, MO. A tall fellow at 6' 4", he got to face three major league batters when he was 23 years old with the St. Louis Cardinals near the end of the 1919 season; he did not retire any of the three, giving up two hits and a run, leading to two runs and an infinite ERA.

The Cardinals also gave Art Reinhart (from Iowa) one batter to face, and when he hit the batter, that was it - until six years later, when he finally made it back to the majors.

On the same day as Koenigsmark's game, the Cardinals also gave Roy Parker, a Missouri boy, a chance to pitch. Parker appeared in one other game, a week later, and he was done in the majors.

The Cardinals manager that year was Branch Rickey, who would become famous much later in connection with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. His 1919 team won only 54 games, in spite of having star Rogers Hornsby, who played mostly third base that year and was among league leaders in offensive categories.

Related Sites

Find-A-Grave Memorial for Will Koenigsmark