RIP Billy Gardner

[Number5]

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/billy-gardner-passes-away.html

[WillyM]

I can still see Billy retreating into shallow right center to catch Hank Bauer's popup for the final out in Hoyt Wilhelm's no-hitter.

I live close to Harrisburg, PA, where the Senators are the Washington Nationals' AA farm club.  There was a time when I thought  I would get to see Billy's son, Billy Jr., on the field in Harrisburg, as the Nationals named him to be the Senators' manager during the 2019-20 offseason.  But then the 2020 Eastern League season was cancelled due to COVID, and by the time minor league baseball was ready to resume, the Nationals decided on somebody else to manage the Senators in 2021.