Billy Raimondi

William Louis Raimondi (December 1, 1912 - October 18, 2010) was an American professional baseball catcher who played 22 years in Minor League Baseball, including 21 seasons in the Pacific Coast League. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he attended McClymonds High School in Oakland and signed with the Oakland Oaks. He played for the Oaks from 1932 to 1949, the Sacramento Solons from 1949 to 1950, and the Los Angeles Angels from 1951 to 1953, and served as the Oaks' interim manager during the 1945 season. He tried out with the Cincinnati Reds for the 1936 season, but an arm injury kept him from reaching the major leagues, and he later declined further major league opportunities to remain near home. He was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 1951.