William Richard “Billy” Cox was born August 29, 1919, in Newport, Perry County, Pennsylvania, and died March 30, 1978, in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He had a major league baseball career as an infielder that began in 1941 with the Pittsburgh Pirates (National League), was interrupted by his military service in World War II, but then was resumed in 1946 and 1947 with Pittsburgh. From 1948 to 1954, he was with the Brooklyn Dodgers (National League), and his final season was with the Baltimore Orioles (American League).
As a member of the Dodgers, he was fortunate to play in three World Series – 1949, 1952 and 1953 – unfortunately each time losing to the New York Yankees. He also played in the same infield as Jackie Robinson from 1948 to 1954.
Billy Cox‘ statistics are found at Baseball Reference.
In 1971, Billy Cox was inducted into the Capital Area [Harrisburg] Hall of Fame.
Billy Cox (Chapter Hall of Fame Class of 1971) makes the final move of his outstanding baseball career 62 years ago today [2016]as the third baseman from Newport, Pennsylvania., is traded, along with pitcher Preacher Roe, by the Brooklyn Dodgers, to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher John Jancse and infielder Harry Schwegman – neither of whom ever reaches the major leagues – and $50,000.
Cox plays two months for Baltimore in 1955 and retires rather than accept a trade to Cleveland when the Orioles try to flip him to the Indians in mid-June of that season.
Cox, whose pro career starts in 1940 on City Island with the Harrisburg Senators, plays 11 seasons in the majors with the Pirates, Dodgers and Orioles, finishing with a .262 lifetime average in 1,058 games and a reputation as the game’s finest fielding third baseman.
___________________________________________________
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.