We’re Contacted by a “Real Live” Former Major Leaguer: Bill Nahorodny

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We’re Contacted by a “Real Live” Former Major Leaguer: Bill Nahorodny!

“I may not have been the best catcher ever, but no one charging the mound ever got to my pitcher. Think about that for a minute!” – Former major leaguer, Bill Nahorodny

I thought about it, Bill…You were one tough guy, and it looks like you could still play today!

One of the great perks of our Old Time Baseball Photos business is that quite often we’re contacted by descendants of former ball players. And, as I’ve said many times, anyone who made it to the major leagues is special in our eyes!

Today I have something a little bit different. I recently spoke with a “real live” former major leaguer, catcher Bill Nahorodny. Some of you older baseball fans will remember Bill as a member of Bill Veeck’s great White Sox “South Side Hit Men” teams.

“Naha” played nine years in the “Big Show” (1976-’84) for the Phillies, White Sox, Braves, Indians, Tigers, and Mariners. Over his career, Bill hit .241 with 25 home runs, and 109 RBIs. Selected in the sixth round by the Phillies in the 1972 amateur draft, he had minor league stops in Auburn, NY; Rocky Mountain, NC; Redding, PA; Toledo, OH (with the Mud Hens where he led the league in home runs), and Oklahoma City. In 1976 he finally got the call to the Phillies and made his major league debut on September 27, 1972. A back-up to some great catchers over his career, he was also the starting catcher for the Sox in 1978, playing in 107 games. His finest year was 1979, when he hit for career highs in average (.285) home runs (8), and RBIs (35).

I enjoyed my recent phone conversation with Bill, a fun-loving guy with a great sense of humor. He kept me laughing as he retold tales from his many years in baseball. Bill grew up a Tigers’ fan in Hamtramck, Michigan (“a small city within the city of Detroit”) which has produced many professional athletes. A multi-sport athlete as a youth, he was captain of his high school basketball team. 

Bill is indebted to legendary scout Dick Groch – “a baseball genius” according to Bill – who was the first to perceive major league potential in a young Bill Nahorodny. Groch invited Bill to play for him at St. Clair County Community College where he achieved All-American status. Groch was a great judge of baseball talent and has a pretty good resume: in addition to being the first to notice Bill Nahorodny, he scouted and signed another pretty good player named Derek Jeter. On his initial scouting report, Groch famously predicted Jeter would one day be “enshrined in Cooperstown” – saying this before Jeter ever stepped foot on a major league diamond.

Bill related an interesting story as to how he became a catcher. He was originally drafted into the Phillies organization as a third baseman. However, former Phillies’ catcher Andy Seminick thought he saw “catcher material” in the hard-hitting Bill Nahorodny – and a surer path to the majors. So one day Seminick threw a catcher’s mitt into Bill’s locker. Bill wisely took the hint; and for the next few weeks, Andy taught Bill the intricacies of the catching profession – the hard way! Andy threw hundreds of balls at Bill’s feet and legs, and taught him how to block with his chest and body. Many bruises and swollen limbs later, the gruesome initiation period paid off; and Bill was suddenly transformed into his new role as a baseball catcher.

His path to the White Sox’ “South Side Hit Men” is also interesting. After appearing in only three games for the 1976 Phillies, he was claimed off waivers by the White Sox on September 8, 1977. As Bill relates the story, “One week I was watching Francisco Barrios pitch on TV, and the next week I’m catching him in my first game as a member of the White Sox, telling him what pitches to throw!” Sure enough, Barrios was elated to get the win that day – after Bill insisted he throw hard rising fast balls instead of flat curves to record the final outs.

Bill has fond memories of his three seasons in Chicago with such memorable teammates as Steve Stone, Ron Blomberg, Richie Zisk, and Oscar Gamble. He shared stories involving Sox owner Bill Veeck and even encounters with Jimmy Piersall (details I can’t relate here!). Chicago is also where he met up with another of his heroes, GM Roland Hemond, who later took Bill with him to Atlanta. Bill would often invite teammates to his home in Michigan when the White Sox played the Tigers, recalling, “What a thrill it was for my parents to meet guys like Steve Stone and Ron Blomberg!”

Bill shared some highlights from his 14 years in professional baseball. Possibly his greatest thrill was hitting a homer off Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan on a 3-2 pitch on May 17, 1978, recalling that, “Facing a 104-MPH fastball from Nolan Ryan is like a whole different ball game!” A close second was on May 5, 1980 against another great Hall-of-Famer, Steve Carleton. Bill was intently warming up pitchers in the bullpen, and was unaware that Carlton was working on a no-hitter. He was called in to pinch hit with two outs in the 8^th inning. Bill singled and, after reaching first, didn’t understand the exuberant crowd reaction and the scoreboard animation. He had to be informed that he had just broken up Carleton’s bid for a no-no! Bill’s one of the reasons Carleton never threw a no-hitter!

Life after baseball has been good for Bill. He worked for 13 years as a UPS driver and supervisor; 11 years at Tires Plus; and eight years as a guard at Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center, where he met his current wife of four years, Gayle (“a great lady with a great personality”), a teacher at the Center. Now residing in Dunnellon, Florida, Bill’s many hobbies include music, fishing, and following the exploits of his 13-year old grandson, PJ, who is something of a baseball phenom. A member of two traveling teams, PJ’s hitting over .800 in each league, with 20 home runs. In two recent All-Star games, he hit three-run homers in each game, and was intentionally walked four times! Dick Groch call your office!

A gifted musician, Bill is especially proud of his latest project: A nearly completed two CD set, called: “At the Ball Yards,” (with editing help from baseball’s Jim Campanis). Due to be released in about a month, it features Bill singing and playing many of his original baseball musical compositions; plus Bill sharing hitting tips and spinning baseball yarns collected over his many years in the game. Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. When it’s released, we’ll feature it here on Old-Time Baseball Photos.

Thanks Bill for sharing all this with us. I know our Old-Time Baseball Photos readers will find it all very interesting!

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: Selections from Bill Nahorodny’s Facebook photos

Information: Excerpts edited from phone conversation with Bill Nahorodny on June 13, 2018. Stats from Baseball Reference.com

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire” and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation