Ripped from the Pages: Bill Denehy (Part 1)
Author William Ryczek chronicles the Mets early days in his book, The Amazing Mets, 1962-1969. In this multi-part excerpt Ryczek tells the story of Bill Denehy.
Bill Denehy had a fabulous prep career in Connecticut, pitching two no-hitters in American Legion ball. In his senior year in high school, he was 10-1 and fanned 151 in just 88 innings.
Carl Hubbell, scouting for San Francisco, heard about the young phenom and wanted him to work out for the Giants. Denehy suggested that rather than simply watch him throw, Hubbell go to the next Legion game and see him in action. Hubbell couldn't make it, and missed seeing Denehy strike out 24 in a nine inning game. Later that summer, he struck out 27 in a 15-inning 1-0 win.
During his senior season in high school, as major league scouts surrounded the Denehy home, Bill and his father decided they wanted a $75,000 bonus. The Cubs said they would pay that amount, but only if they were unable to sign a shortstop from Mississippi with whom they were negotiating.
"As soon as the scout left," recalled Denehy, "I ran two blocks up the street to the Catholic church and prayed the rosary that they didn't sign him. But a day or two later they signed Don Kessinger." Kessinger got Denehy's bonus.
Denehy visited Yankee Stadium to try out with the Yankees. He went to the Yankee locker room, met Mickey Mantle, Ralph Terry, Yogi Berra and some of the other players and took the field wearing manager Berra's pants and Terry's sweatshirt.
Under the supervision of coach Whitey Ford, Denehy began pitching to bullpen catcher Jim Hegan, and threw hard enough to get the attention of some of the Yankees lingering nearby. Mantle decided to pick up a bat and stand in to give Denehy a target. The youngster, who had been so confident, suddenly had a disquieting thought.
He was young, he threw hard, and his control wasn't always that good. He could see the headlines in the next day's papers: "Pitching Hopeful Beans Mantle." Fortunately, Denehy's control was good, and the workout concluded with Mantle still in one piece. Ford told Denehy that he thought he had a future in New York, and urged him to consider signing with the Yankees.
