RIP Billy Gardner

[micropolitan guy]

Former Twins, Royals manager, veteran MLB infielder, member of the 1954 NYG and 1961 NYY World Series winners, and one of the final 10 living New York Giants. He was the oldest surviving NYG before his death on 1/3/2024.

Al Worthington is now the oldest surviving New York Giant.

 

[Machine Head]

Sold meat in the off season if memory serves.

RIP, Slick.

 

[exmediahack]

Made it to 96. He looked "old" when he managed the Twins.

Tom Kelly and Sparky Anderson lead the list of baseball managers who looked 25 years older than their actual age at all times.

 

[Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.]

Billy grew up and lived in Eastern Connecticut, where I'm from. In the offseason back in the 50s or 60s, he worked at a butcher shop with my uncle and they became longtime friends.

When Gardner was managing the Royals in '87, he came to Fenway. My uncle made arrangements for Gardner to leave tickets for my father, brother and me.

We make the 90-minute drive to Fenway, where my notoriously cheap father happily parked near Fenway since he didn't have to pay for tickets. Get to the window and my father says our name and that Billy Gardner left us tickets. "Sorry, Mr. Gardner didn't leave any tickets for anyone." So now my father had to shell out money to get us bleacher seats (which, let's be honest, in 1987 was probably like $7 a seat) but I think he is still burned by that sudden loss of $21, 36 years later. Actually, I know he is still burned by that.

 

[Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.]

Sold meat in the off season if memory serves.

RIP, Slick.

Yes. Sachem Provisions (later Roessler's, RIP), with my uncle, as referenced above. On the rare occasion when I buy hot dogs, they have to have natural casings, for which Roessler's was famous.

 

[Machine Head]

Yes. Sachem Provisions (later Roessler's, RIP), with my uncle, as referenced above. On the rare occasion when I buy hot dogs, they have to have natural casings, for which Roessler's was famous.

Pat Reusse has tweeted about Gardner today and I'd guess he'll write a piece as well.

He stayed at at Super 8 Motel, someone posted a picture on Reusse's twitter. I'd forgotten about that.

 

[HanSenSE]

Tidbits from the New York Giants Preservation Society page on Facebook:


Here is a list of the 8 living members of the NY Giants along with some tidbits regarding them:

■Joe Margoneri 1956-57 B: 1/13/1930 P
■Joey Amalfitano 1954-55 B:1/23/1934 INF
■Bill White 1956 B: 1/28/1934 1B
■Al Worthington 1953-54, 1956-57 B: 2/5/1929 P
■Jackie Brandt 1956 B: 4/28/1934 OF
■Willie Mays 1951-52, 1954-57 B: 5/6/1931 OF
■Ozzie Virgil 1956-57 B: 5/17/1932 INF
■Ray Crone 1957 B: 8/7/1931 P

-Willie Mays is the only remaining NY Giant from the 1951 Giants NL Pennant winning club.

-Joey Amalfitano, Willie Mays, and Al Worthington, are the only remaining NY Giants from the 1954 World Championship team, the last WS Championship they won in NY.

-Joe Margoneri is the only NY Giant of the 8 remaining NY Giants to solely play for the franchise in NY and not in San Francisco.

-Jackie Brandt Ray Crone, Willie Mays, Bill White, and Al Worthington, are the only remaining Giants who played for the team in NY and were members of the inaugural SF Giants in 1958.

-Joey Amalfitano and Ozzie Virgil, are the only two NY Giants who played with the SF Giants, but not during the inaugural 1958 season in San Francisco.

-Jackie Brandt (89) is the youngest living NY Giant, Al Worthington (94) is the oldest living NY Giant, while Willie Mays (92) is the oldest Hall of Famer.