{{short description|American baseball player (born 1946)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Bill McNulty |position=Utility player |image= |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1946|8|29}} |birth_place=Sacramento, California, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=July 9 |debutyear=1969 |debutteam=Oakland Athletics |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=October 4 |finalyear=1972 |finalteam=Oakland Athletics |debut2league = NPB |debut2date=June 3 |debut2year=1975 |debut2team=Lotte Orions |final2league = NPB |final2date=September 28 |final2year=1975 |final2team=Lotte Orions |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.037 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=0 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=0 |stat2league=NPB |stat21label=Batting average |stat21value=.190 |stat22label=Home runs |stat22value=13 |stat23label=Runs batted in |stat23value=27 |teams= *Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|1969}}, {{mlby|1972}}) *Lotte Orions ({{npby|1975}}) }} '''William Francis McNulty''' (born August 29, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player. He played for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball for parts of two seasons, in {{Baseball year|1969}} and {{Baseball year|1972}}. He also played one season for the Lotte Orions of Nippon Professional Baseball in {{Baseball year|1975}}. During his major league career, he played in the outfield and at third base.
==Early life== McNulty was born on August 29, 1946, in Roseville, California. His father, Ray, played professional baseball in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and his uncle, Gene, played in the farm system of the New York Yankees.<ref name=accepts/>
McNulty attended Highlands High School in North Highlands, California. ''The Sacramento Union'' named him to the All-City team as a third baseman in 1964, his senior year,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-the-union-announces/146397045/|title=The Union Announces Its All-City Team|newspaper=The Sacramento Union |date=May 31, 1964|pages=16|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> in which he had a .355 batting average with six home runs. McNulty also played for the basketball team and American football team as a quarterback.<ref name=accepts/> He attended American River College in Sacramento and played college baseball and college basketball for one year.<ref name=accepts/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-this-oaks-strong-lim/146397741/|title=This Oak's Strong Limb Saves Lead|newspaper=Des Moines Tribune |date=May 26, 1970|pages=20|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
==Professional career== McNulty signed with the Kansas City Athletics in February 1965.<ref name=accepts>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-bill-mcnulty-accepts/146398232/|title=Bill McNulty Accepts Bonus Pact From KC|date=February 9, 1965|pages=32|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> Don Pries, the scout who signed him, had informed him that the Athletics would be moving to Oakland, California, in two years.<ref name=sabr/> That year, McNulty enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, attending boot camp for six months. He also needed to miss one month of each baseball season for the next six years to fulfill his commitment.<ref name=sabr/>
McNulty played for the Burlington Bees of the Single-A Midwest League in 1966 before receiving a late season promotion to the Mobile A's of the Double-A Southern League in September.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-eastwood-bohn-creas/81034858/|title=Eastwood, Bohn, Creasey All Fire 2-Under-Par 70s|work=The Sacramento Bee|date=September 4, 1966|pages=54|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> McNulty split the 1967 and 1968 seasons between the Peninsula Grays of the Single-A Carolina League and the Birmingham A's of the Southern League. struggling with Birmingham in both seasons.<ref name=sabr/> He began the 1969 season with Birmingham and he hit .292 with 18 home runs and 59 runs batted in (RBIs).<ref name=reynolds>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-mcnulty-replaces-reyno/146399905/|title=McNulty Replaces Reynolds On A's|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=July 10, 1969|pages=27|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
On July 9, 1969, Tommie Reynolds went on the disabled list with a broken finger and the Athletics promoted McNulty to the major leagues.<ref name=reynolds/> They told him that he would play as a left fielder, though he had no experience playing the position.<ref name=haven/> He batted 0-for-17 with 10 strikeouts in five games.<ref name=haven/><ref name=hunts>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-mcnulty-now-hunts-for-a/146395611/|title=McNulty Now Hunts For A's Job|date=September 26, 1972|work=Oakland Tribune|pages=35|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> The Athletics demoted him to the Iowa Oaks of the Triple-A American Association on July 14.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-bill-mcnulty-sen/146413809/|title=Bill McNulty Sent to Oaks|date=July 14, 1969|pages=19|work=The Des Moines Register|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref>
McNulty batted .295 with 22 home runs for Iowa in 1970.<ref name=switch/> After the season, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired McNulty in a trade for Gary Timberlake.<ref name=predicts>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-mcnulty-pre/146400119/|title=McNulty Predicts More HRs in '72|date=April 9, 1972|pages=54|work=Evansville Courier and Press|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> McNulty thought that he had hit well enough to make the Brewers' roster for the 1971 season, but manager Dave Bristol thought he was a poor and lackadaisical fielder. Milwaukee's general manager, Frank Lane, approached McNulty about becoming a pitcher, which he refused. The Athletics purchased McNulty's contract back from Milwaukee before the start of the season and returned him to Iowa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-mcnulty-asked-to-go-b/146436319/|title=McNulty Asked To Go Back to Iowa Oaks|date=April 7, 1971|pages=52|work=Des Moines Tribune|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> He hit 27 home runs for Iowa in 1971, which led the American Association.<ref name=switch/> After the 1971 season, the Athletics traded McNulty and Frank Fernández to the Chicago Cubs for Adrian Garrett.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-oakland-trades-f/146395872/|title=Oakland Trades For Slugger Garrett: Cubs Get McNulty, Fernandez|date=September 1, 1971|pages=17|work=The Des Moines Register|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> He played for the Tacoma Rainiers in the PCL playoffs and hit four home runs.<ref name=switch>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-mcnulty-would-rater-s/146396483/|title=McNulty Would Rater Switch Than Pitch ... Back to Minors|work=The Wichita Beacon|date=March 27, 1972|pages=9|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
Having too many outfielders and wanting to prioritize the development of Terry Hughes as a third baseman, the Cubs loaned McNulty to the Brewers for the 1972 season.<ref name=predicts/> He played for the Evansville Triplets of the American Association, where he batted .258 with 24 home runs and 73 RBIs.<ref name=hunts/> In late September, the Athletics reacquired McNulty, intending to promote him to the major leagues. They could not find him as he had gone hunting in the Warner Mountains.<ref name=sabr/> McNulty's father drove to Alturas where he found two forest rangers who located Bill at his campsite to tell him that there was a family emergency. At the nearest sheriff's station, he called his father, who told him to report to Oakland.<ref name=hunts/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-as-twins-schedule-2/146395281/|title=A's, Twins Schedule 2 For Tonight After Rainout In Oakland|date=September 26, 1972|pages=25|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024|quote=McNulty phoned his father from the nearest sheriff's office and was told the A's had bought his contract and to report to Oakland as soon as possible. 'My father said he had to tell me it was an emergency because that was the only way to get me off the mountain,' McNulty said last night.}}</ref> McNulty batted 1-for-10 for the Athletics in three games as a third baseman. His only hit came off of Nolan Ryan.<ref name=haven/>
After the 1972 season, the Athletics traded McNulty and a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers for Paul Lindblad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-as-send-bill-mcnulty/146421770/|title=A's Send Bill McNulty To Texas For Linblad|date=November 3, 1972|pages=25|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> The Athletics sent Brant Alyea to the Rangers to complete the trade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galt-herald-as-trade-epstein-for-a/146435864/|title='A's Trade Epstein for another pitcher|date=December 7, 1972|pages=4|work=The Galt Herald|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> McNulty attended spring training with Texas in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-ex-oak-mcnulty-may-mo/146400504/|title=Ex-Oak McNulty May Move Again|work=Des Moines Tribune|date=March 30, 1973|pages=30|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> He did not make the team and the Rangers traded him to the New York Mets for Bill Sudakis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-mets-obtain-bill/146400450/|title=Mets Obtain Bill McNulty|date=April 1, 1973|pages=40|work=The Des Moines Registger|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> He hit 25 home runs for the Tidewater Tides of the Triple-A International League in 1973.<ref name=haven>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-mcnulty-he-found-hom/146397647/|title=McNulty: He found homer haven|date=June 1, 1999|pages=20|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref>
Before the 1974 season, the Brewers purchased McNulty's contract from the Mets and assigned him to the Sacramento Solons of the PCL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-possible-trade-for-mc/49728413/|title=Possible Trade for McNulty|date=March 15, 1974|pages=31|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-bill-mcnulty-to-sacra/49732270/|title=Bill McNulty to Sacramento|work=The Sacramento Bee|date=March 16, 1974|pages=34|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> In 1974, McNulty hit 55 home runs, leading all of professional baseball.<ref name=relaxed>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-relaxed-bill-mcnulty/146396107/|title=Relaxed Bill McNulty Eyes Another World Record Year|date=March 31, 1975|pages=30|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-big-mac-came-up-hu/146397704/|title='Big Mac' came up huge at Hughes in '74: Homegrown McNulty thrived at makeshift park|date=June 1, 1999|pages=15|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> He also batted .330 and set PCL records with 134 runs scored and 135 RBIs. However, Sacramento's home stadium, Hughes Stadium, was a converted football field that went only {{convert|232|ft}} to left field, an unusually short distance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-gazette-minors-top-slugger-gets-no/146427168/|title=Minor's top slugger gets no call|work=Star Gazette|date=September 10, 1974|pages=32|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> He returned to Sacramento for the 1975 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-solons-get-mcnulty-ba/146399527/|title=Solons Get McNulty Back|date=February 12, 1975|pages=21|work=The Sacramento Bee|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref> However, the Brewers attempted to cut his salary, and he signed with the Lotte Orions of Nippon Professional Baseball for $70,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|70000|1975}}}} in current dollar terms) one month into the 1975 season. He batted .190 for Lotte and was released after spending six weeks with the team.<ref name=haven/>
==Personal life== While he was still playing for Sacramento, McNulty became a partner in a clothing store in Roseville, California.<ref name=relaxed/>
McNulty met Sue Isekite when he played for Tacoma. They married in 1979 and lived in Eatonville, Washington. They have two daughters.<ref name=sabr>{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-mcnulty/|title=Bill McNulty |first=Nelson|last=Greene|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseball stats|br=m/mcnulbi01|brm=mcnult001wil|retro=M/Pmcnub101}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNulty, Bill}} Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:Arizona Instructional League Athletics players Category:Baseball players from Sacramento, California Category:Birmingham A's players Category:Burlington Bees players Category:Evansville Triplets players Category:Leesburg A's players Category:Iowa Oaks players Category:Lotte Orions players Category:Major League Baseball first basemen Category:Major League Baseball third basemen Category:Major League Baseball left fielders Category:Mobile A's players Category:Oakland Athletics players Category:Peninsula Grays players Category:Sacramento Solons players Category:Tidewater Tides players Category:Tigres de Aragua players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:20th-century American sportsmen