First Angel Skipper Rigney Dies

Bill Rigney, the first manager of the Angels and by far the winningest skipper in club history, died Tuesday of complications from pneumonia in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was 83.

Rigney was admitted to John Muir Hospital on Nov. 18 because of pneumonia, one year after he was diagnosed with lymphoma. His death was announced by the Oakland Athletics, who had employed him since 1982 as a broadcaster and a special assistant to team President Roy Eisenhardt.

An infielder with the New York Giants from 1946-53 and later the first manager of the Giants after they moved to San Francisco, Rigney was 625-707 in eight-plus seasons as manager of the Angels.

“I was terribly saddened to hear of Bill’s passing,” Jackie Autry, former Angel owner and widow of original Angel owner Gene Autry, said in a statement released by the Angels.

“Not only was he a treasured friend of Gene and I, but he was and will remain one of the greatest Angels ever.”

Rigney guided the Angels to a 70-91 record in 1961, the best season by an expansion team in major league history. He was the American League manager of the year in 1962 after leading the Angels to an 86-76 record and a surprising third-place finish in the American League. Their 46-35 road record in 1962 is the best in club history.

“He was one of the pioneers of the Angels’ organization and his contributions will not be forgotten,” Tony Tavares, president of Anaheim Sports, said in a statement. “We join baseball fans throughout the nation in mourning the loss of Bill Rigney.”

Fired by the Angels 39 games into the 1969 season, Rigney managed the Minnesota Twins from 1970-72, leading the Twins to the American League West championship in 1970.

Rigney, who had managed the Giants from 1956-60, served a second managerial stint with the Giants in 1976.

“Baseball and the San Francisco Giants have lost one of their greatest treasures,” Giant owner Peter Magowan said Tuesday. “Bill Rigney, along with Horace Stoneham, Chub Feeney and Russ Hodges, personified the Giants when they moved west in 1958.

“He was our first manager in San Francisco, and he had remained our last link to that era of our franchise’s history. Rig was a baseball man through and through. He was a wonderful storyteller and a warm, thoughtful human being.”

Rigney, whose record in 18 years as a manager was 1,239-1,321, also was a scout for the Angels and San Diego Padres, and for a short time in the 1980s was a radio and television broadcaster for the A’s.

Born Jan. 29, 1918, in Alameda, Calif., Rigney was a frequent visitor to the A’s clubhouse before taking ill.

“We loved to have him around,” Oakland Manager Art Howe said. “He had so much knowledge. He was such a great baseball guy. He’s seen everything that can happen in this game. He always had good, sound advice. You would always come out feeling good about things after you talked with him.”

Rigney is survived by two sons, William Rigney Jr. of Midland, Texas, and Tom Rigney of Berkeley; a daughter, Lynn Schott of Kettle Falls, Wash.; and six grandchildren.

*

The Associated Press contributed to this story.