Former Diamond Dog Bill Etheridge

[CochiseCowbell]

I work for a family (not mine) owned and operated small business in GA. A recent college graduate, member of the family of course, has just started working with us. He's asked me about State baseball a little bit this season, and I just assumed that I talk about it a lot. This morning he asked how we did this weekend. I told him that we're advancing and was about to explain the whole regional/super regional road to Omaha to him, when he nodded and said his uncle played for State. I'm thinking it has to be great uncle, but I digress.

His relative is Bill Etheridge. He said his nickname was Winen (sp?), and he bounced around the minors in the 70's before settling down to raise a family outside of baseball.

The only thing I could find was from an old PDF from a 2010 era Baseball Program. It looks like he was All-SEC OF in 1962. That same year he also lead the team in H, R, Avg, & SB and tied for the RBI lead.

Any of y'all on here old enough to have seen him play? I know there's several on here who could research him better than I could as well.

 

[blacklistedbully]

View attachment 13119

Bobby. Signed as a free agent by the SF Giants in 1964. Called up by them to the Big Leagues in 1967 & 1969. Played in 77 (76 at 3b) games on those legendary Giants teams that included HOF'ers Juan Marichal, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey & Gaylord Perry, as well as a bunch of other well-known and respected players from those teams. Started in 63 of those games.

1967 Tops Rookie All-Star
967 Topps All-Star Rookie Team


The following players were members of the 1967 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. Their 1968 Topps baseball cards were imprinted with a gold trophy symbol.

Position	Player	Team	Comments
C	Dick Dietz	San Francisco Giants
1B	Lee May	Cincinnati Reds
2B	Rod Carew	Minnesota Twins	Hall of Famer
3B	Bobby Etheridge	San Francisco Giants
SS	Tim Cullen	Washington Senators
OF	Rick Monday	Oakland Athletics	Monday's card did not have a gold trophy symbol on it.
Reggie Smith	Boston Red Sox
Walt Williams	Chicago White Sox
RHP	Tom Seaver	New York Mets	Hall of Famer
Dick Hughes	St. Louis Cardinals	Hughes's card did not have a gold trophy symbol on it.
LHP	Rich Nye	Chicago Cubs	Nye's card did not have a gold trophy symbol on it.

<tbody>
</tbody>

 

[blacklistedbully]

The veteran he was playing behind in '67 was a returning All-Star, Jim Ray Hart, who also garnered some MVP votes the year Bobby was called up in '67. Hart also came in 2nd in '65 for NL ROY, and received votes for MVP in '64 & '65, in addition to the time in '67.

Looks like Bobby was good enough to get called up twice and play in quite a few games, but onto a club that had a stud 3b as the starter. Not bad for a guy who was a SS in college. 3b is a tough position to play.

 

[AROB44]

I work for a family (not mine) owned and operated small business in GA. A recent college graduate, member of the family of course, has just started working with us. He's asked me about State baseball a little bit this season, and I just assumed that I talk about it a lot. This morning he asked how we did this weekend. I told him that we're advancing and was about to explain the whole regional/super regional road to Omaha to him, when he nodded and said his uncle played for State. I'm thinking it has to be great uncle, but I digress.

His relative is Bill Etheridge. He said his nickname was Winen (sp?), and he bounced around the minors in the 70's before settling down to raise a family outside of baseball.

The only thing I could find was from an old PDF from a 2010 era Baseball Program. It looks like he was All-SEC OF in 1962. That same year he also lead the team in H, R, Avg, & SB and tied for the RBI lead.

Any of y'all on here old enough to have seen him play? I know there's several on here who could research him better than I could as well.

Yes....I was a freshman in the spring of 62. Saw some baseball, not much, but some. Probably saw him play but really don't remember him. Back then, I must admit that I was much more a BB fan......loved watching Babe McCarthy teams play.

 

[tcdog70]

Are Bill and Bobby the same guy. I have played golf with Bobby years ago.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I didn't think so. But, not 100% sure. The nephew is going to get more details from his grandfather tonight.

 

[West Tn Dawg]

View attachment 13119

Bobby. Signed as a free agent by the SF Giants in 1964. Called up by them to the Big Leagues in 1967 & 1969. Played in 77 (76 at 3b) games on those legendary Giants teams that included HOF'ers Juan Marichal, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey & Gaylord Perry, as well as a bunch of other well-known and respected players from those teams. Started in 63 of those games.

1967 Tops Rookie All-Star
967 Topps All-Star Rookie Team


The following players were members of the 1967 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. Their 1968 Topps baseball cards were imprinted with a gold trophy symbol.

Position	Player	Team	Comments
C	Dick Dietz	San Francisco Giants
1B	Lee May	Cincinnati Reds
2B	Rod Carew	Minnesota Twins	Hall of Famer
3B	Bobby Etheridge	San Francisco Giants
SS	Tim Cullen	Washington Senators
OF	Rick Monday	Oakland Athletics	Monday's card did not have a gold trophy symbol on it.
Reggie Smith	Boston Red Sox
Walt Williams	Chicago White Sox
RHP	Tom Seaver	New York Mets	Hall of Famer
Dick Hughes	St. Louis Cardinals	Hughes's card did not have a gold trophy symbol on it.
LHP	Rich Nye	Chicago Cubs	Nye's card did not have a gold trophy symbol on it.

<tbody>
</tbody>

I grew up playing softball with Bobby after he came back to Greenville. He was a helluva ball player. Had more hustle than any player I ever played with.

 

[blacklistedbully]

Maybe I have the wrong guy. There was a Bill Etheridge who was an outfielder for us. Made All-SEC in '62 & '63. We also had a Bobby Etheridge who played 3B for us, and later for the SF Giants at the Big League level. Records may be a little mixed up, as one source had Bobby as a SS, but Mississippi State lists him as having played 3B.

Also, Billy shows up as being a Letterman for us, but not Bobby, unless Bobby is also, H.K Etheridge, who is also listed as a Letterman. Bill & HK lettered from 61-63.

 

[blacklistedbully]

Definitely got them mixed up. Bobby was on our team only his freshman year, then transferred to Miss. Delta CC. I've never even heard of MDCC.

 

[60sdog]

Bobby Etheridge from Greenville

I work for a family (not mine) owned and operated small business in GA. A recent college graduate, member of the family of course, has just started working with us. He's asked me about State baseball a little bit this season, and I just assumed that I talk about it a lot. This morning he asked how we did this weekend. I told him that we're advancing and was about to explain the whole regional/super regional road to Omaha to him, when he nodded and said his uncle played for State. I'm thinking it has to be great uncle, but I digress.

His relative is Bill Etheridge. He said his nickname was Winen (sp?), and he bounced around the minors in the 70's before settling down to raise a family outside of baseball.

The only thing I could find was from an old PDF from a 2010 era Baseball Program. It looks like he was All-SEC OF in 1962. That same year he also lead the team in H, R, Avg, & SB and tied for the RBI lead.

Any of y'all on here old enough to have seen him play? I know there's several on here who could research him better than I could as well.

I grew up watching the Etheridges play baseball. Bobby advanced to the big leagues and he had a brother, Jimmy, who would have also, except he died his senior year from a broken neck in 1964 in a football game. Bobby also died a few years ago.

 

[512taylor]

Definitely got them mixed up. Bobby was on our team only his freshman year, then transferred to Miss. Delta CC. I've never even heard of MDCC.

"Redneck Tech"