Billy Clingman

Billy Clingman
Billy Clingman
	Third Baseman / Shortstop
	Born: William Frederick Clingman; November 21, 1869; Cincinnati, Ohio, US
	Died: May 14, 1958 (aged 88); Cincinnati, Ohio, US
	Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
	September 9, 1890, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
	July 16, 1903, for the Cleveland Naps
MLB statistics
Batting average	.245
Home runs	8
Runs batted in	302
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Cincinnati Reds (1890); Cincinnati Kelly's Killers (1891); Pittsburgh Pirates (1895); Louisville Colonels (1896–1899); Chicago Orphans (1900); Washington Senators (1901); Cleveland Naps (1903);

William Frederick Clingman (November 21, 1869 – May 14, 1958) was an American baseball player. He played Major League Baseball from 1890 to 1903, and played as third baseman and shortstop.

Early life

Clingman was born on November 21, 1869, in Cincinnati, one of five children born to John Clingman and Mary Clingman. After basic schooling, he worked as an engraver, playing baseball during the day and working nights. Physically, he was 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and weighed 150 pounds (68 kg).^[1]

Baseball career

Clingman played for local teams such as the Lincolns, the Shamrocks, and the Indians. With the Indians, he faced Major League teams and batted against pitchers such as Tony Mullane and Billy Rhines. In 1890, he and Billy Klusman were signed to the Mansfield Pioneers, of Minor League Baseball. He debuted for the team on May 23, winning 6-0 against the Wheeling Stogies. His batting average for the season was .292, and his fielding percentage was .879. He became a free agent after the season concluded, when the team disbanded.^[1]

On September 5, 1890, Clingman signed to the Cincinnati Reds. He debuted on September 9 as a shortstop; the Reds won 8-4 against the Boston Red Sox that season. He played the next few games as shortstop, being transferred to second baseman while Bid McPhee recovered from a hand injury.^[1]

In the postseason, the Reds were sold to Al Johnson. He moved the team to Players' League, which disbanded shortly thereafter, making Clingman a free agent. He then joined the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers. Due to an injury, he failed a tryout for the St. Louis Browns, after which he signed with the Terre Haute Hottentots, of the Minor League.^[1]

Clingman debuted in Major League Baseball on September 9, 1890. Over his 10-season career, he played third baseman and shortstop. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Louisville Colonels, the Chicago Orphans, the Washington Senators, and the Cleveland Naps.^[2]

621 games, he posted a .245 batting average (758-for-2433) with 413 runs, 133 doubles, 63 triples, 8 home runs, 400 RBI, 98 stolen bases, .323 on-base percentage and .306 slugging percentage.^[2]

Personal life and death

On January 14, 1891, Clingman married Clara Mae Gibner, with whom he had four children. He lived in Bond Hill, Cincinnati.^[1] He died on May 14, 1958, aged 88, in Cincinnati, and was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, in Louisville, Kentucky.^[2]

References

1 2 3 4 5 Rainey, Chris. "Billy Clingman – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved September 27, 2026.
1 2 3 "Billy Clingman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2026.

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac

[:1-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Rainey, Chris. "Billy Clingman – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved September 27, 2026.

[:2-2] 1 2 3 "Billy Clingman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2026.

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