Former Rangers Manager and World Series Winner Billy Hunter Passes Away at 97
Billy Hunter, who led the Texas Rangers during the 1977 and 1978 seasons and collected three World Series rings across his baseball career, has died at the age of 97. The news of his passing was shared Thursday, with the Baltimore Orioles — a team central to his legacy — honoring him on social media. Hunter holds a unique place in baseball history as the last living member of both the 1954 Baltimore Orioles and the original St. Louis Browns, who relocated from St. Louis in 1953. He was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1996.
Hunter took over the Rangers midway through a chaotic 1977 season in which the team cycled through three managers. Frank Lucchesi was fired after a turbulent spring that included an altercation with player Lenny Randle, and short stints by Eddie Stanky and Connie Ryan followed. The Rangers then hired Hunter away from his 13-year post as third base coach for the Orioles. He quickly made an impact, guiding Texas to a 60-33 finish and a second-place standing in the AL West.
In 1978, he led the team to another winning season at 86-75, again finishing second to the Kansas City Royals. Despite success on the field, Hunter declined a five-year contract extension midway through the season and was let go just one game before the season ended. He never returned to MLB managing but went on to serve as Towson University’s head baseball coach and athletic director from 1979 to 1995.
Hunter’s career began after signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948 following his time as a two-sport athlete at Penn State. After playing for the Fort Worth Cats — where he earned Texas League MVP honors — he was traded to the St. Louis Browns and debuted in the majors in 1953, earning an All-Star nod as a rookie. He continued playing with the Orioles, Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and Cleveland, ending his career with a .219 average, 16 home runs, and 144 RBIs.
He earned his first World Series ring as a player with the 1956 Yankees, then added two more as a coach with the Orioles in 1966 and 1970.
