Bill Hands – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bill Hands put together an impressive 11-year run in Major League Baseball, pitching from 1965 to 1975 for four different teams. A right-hander from New Jersey, he truly made his name with the Chicago Cubs, where he spent seven seasons and found his stride.

Hands hit the top of his game in 1969, winning 20 games for the Cubs with a 2.49 ERA. He threw 18 complete games and logged 300 innings. Around the league, folks called him “Froggy.” He earned a reputation as a steady, no-nonsense guy, quietly going about his business—even if he sometimes got overlooked on a Cubs roster packed with stars like Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins.

Let’s take a look at Hands’ path from his early days in Rutherford, New Jersey, through those peak years in Chicago. We’ll get into his pitching style, big moments, and what he got up to after baseball. There’s also something to be said about his lasting impact on the game and how teammates and fans remember this reliable arm who wrapped up his career with a 111-110 record and a tidy 3.35 ERA.

Bill Hands’ Baseball Career Overview

Bill Hands pitched in the majors for 11 seasons, from 1965 to 1975, racking up 111 wins and 110 losses with a 3.35 ERA. He really shined in 1969, picking up 20 wins for the Chicago Cubs and establishing himself as a top arm for the team.

Major League Debut and Final Season

Hands took the mound for his MLB debut on June 3, 1965, with the San Francisco Giants at age 25. He pitched two innings, didn’t allow a hit, and struck out one batter.

He only got into four games as a rookie with the Giants. After that season, San Francisco sent him to the Chicago Cubs along with catcher Randy Hundley.

His last MLB game came on August 10, 1975, for the Texas Rangers. Hands was 35 when he stepped away from professional baseball.

His career spanned a full decade of big-league action. He grew from a rookie with limited chances to a veteran who logged over 1,950 innings.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Hands wrapped up his career with 111 wins and 110 losses, sporting a 3.35 ERA. He struck out 1,128 batters in 1,951 innings.

He had his best year in 1969 with the Chicago Cubs. That season, he went 20-14 with a 2.49 ERA and tossed 18 complete games. He pitched 300 innings, working alongside Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins in the rotation.

In 1968, Hands put together a 16-10 record with a 2.89 ERA at age 28. Those two seasons were the high point of his career.

Ferguson Jenkins once called Hands an “even-tempered guy” with a good sinking fastball and a sharp slider. Jenkins said Hands “did his job and never complained about being underappreciated on a team full of stars.”

Teams Played For in MLB

Hands suited up for four teams during his MLB career. He started with the San Francisco Giants in 1965 before landing in Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs became his main squad from 1966 to 1972. He spent seven years there, notching his best numbers and that 20-win season in 1969.

After his Cubs days, Hands moved to the Minnesota Twins for two seasons, 1973 and 1974. He split his last season between the Twins and Texas Rangers in 1974.

The Rangers were his final stop in 1975. That trade from San Francisco to Chicago turned out to be one of the best deals the Cubs ever made, since Hands became a big piece of their pitching staff.

Peak Years with the Chicago Cubs

Bill Hands hit his stride with the Chicago Cubs from 1968 to 1970, locking himself in as one of their most dependable starters. His 20-win season in 1969 was the crown jewel of a three-year stretch where he averaged 274 innings a year and posted a sharp 2.95 ERA.

Breakout Performances in 1968 and 1969

Hands went from promising to dominant during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. In ’68, he put up a strong 2.89 ERA over 258 innings, showing off the control and steadiness that would define his best years.

The next year, he was even better. Hands finished with a 20-14 record and a 2.49 ERA across 300 innings. That ERA was the fourth-lowest by a Cubs starter since World War II at the time.

Local baseball writers named him Chicago Player of the Year in 1969. Hands struck out 181 that season and only walked 73, proving just how sharp his command was.

Highlights of the 20-Game Winner Season

That 1969 campaign really was the high-water mark for Hands. By winning 20 games, he joined an exclusive group of Cubs pitchers and cemented his status as a top starter.

His 2.49 ERA spoke for itself. Hands regularly pitched deep into games, completing 18 of his 41 starts and doing it all with impressive efficiency.

He showed serious durability over 300 innings, which was huge for a Cubs team chasing the pennant. His steady outings helped anchor a rotation that kept Chicago in the hunt most of the season.

Role in the Cubs’ Famous Rotation

Hands played a major role alongside Ferguson Jenkins in one of baseball’s toughest rotations. Together, they formed the backbone of Cubs pitching through the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Jenkins usually got most of the headlines, but Hands quietly delivered quality innings and reliability. He handled Wrigley Field’s tricky conditions better than most, making him a real asset for the Cubs.

The rotation depended on Hands’ ability to eat innings and keep the team in games. His peak from 1968-1970 lined up with some of the Cubs’ best years of that era.

Key Teammates and Trades

Hands worked closely with catcher Randy Hundley, who managed much of the Cubs’ pitching staff during those key seasons. Their battery worked well, calling smart games and keeping things on track.

The Cubs’ roster also included steady relievers like Lindy McDaniel, who often took over games from Hands in big moments. Players like Don Landrum brought some veteran presence to the clubhouse during Hands’ best years.

His partnership with Jenkins created a tough one-two punch that gave opponents headaches. That duo helped make the Cubs real contenders while Hands was at his best.

Pitching Style and Notable Games

Bill Hands built his reputation as a control pitcher who leaned on precision, not power. His methodical approach and knack for hitting his spots led to some big moments, especially his 1969 season with 20 wins for the Cubs.

Pitch Repertoire and Approach

Hands pitched as a finesse guy, focusing on command over raw speed. He threw a four-seam fastball, curveball, and changeup.

He kept his walk numbers low by sticking to a control-first mindset. This worked well against hitters who were used to seeing more power arms with higher strikeout rates.

He averaged 4.7 strikeouts per nine innings, which was below league average, but his ability to get weak contact and limit free passes made him valuable.

Hands usually worked quickly and efficiently. He finished 81 games during his 11 seasons, showing both stamina and the ability to go deep.

Record-Breaking Performances

Hands hit his career high in 1969 with the Cubs. He went 20-14 with a 2.49 ERA over 300 innings.

That year, he stood among the National League’s best. His 20 wins tied Tom Seaver for second in the NL, behind only Phil Niekro’s 23.

He finished 18 games and tossed four shutouts that season. Those numbers showed how durable and reliable he was.

Hands struck out 181 batters in 1969, his personal best. That was a jump from his usual strikeout numbers, but he always leaned more on control than power.

Standout Matchups Against Top Opponents

Hands faced plenty of Hall of Fame hitters during his Cubs years. He often took the mound against teams like the Montreal Expos, proving he could handle strong lineups.

He used smart pitch sequences against star players. Hands mixed eye levels and worked both sides of the plate to keep hitters guessing.

He never seemed rattled in big moments. Even against the game’s best, Hands kept his cool and stuck to his approach.

He wrapped up his career with 111 wins and 110 losses, along with a 3.35 ERA. Over 11 seasons, his steady numbers showed he belonged, even if he didn’t pile up strikeouts like some power pitchers.

Early Life, Education, and Personal Background

William Alfred Hands Jr. was born on May 6, 1940, in Hackensack, New Jersey, and grew up in Rutherford. Education mattered a lot in his family. He managed to balance school and sports, eventually picking up the nickname “Froggy” for a pitching delivery that reminded teammates of Don Larsen.

Growing Up in New Jersey

Bill Hands started life in Hackensack on May 6, 1940, but grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey. His family really valued education and learning.

He excelled both on the baseball field and at chess. He could outplay people in either area. Summers, he’d spend time with family in the quiet town of Orient, near the tip of Long Island.

As a kid, Hands fell in love with baseball by going to New York Giants games at the Polo Grounds with his grandfather. Those early trips to the ballpark fueled his passion for the game. He showed promise as a pitcher in his teens, with a strong arm and good control.

High School and Collegiate Athletics

At Rutherford High School, Hands pitched for the Bulldogs and quickly became a standout. His parents, though, always put education first. College would come before baseball.

After high school, Hands honored his parents’ wishes and went to college. He started at Ohio Wesleyan University and later transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University. During his college years, the Boston Red Sox showed some interest in him.

That early attention from a big-league club planted the idea of a pro career. When the New York Giants—his favorite team—offered a contract, Hands decided to go for it.

Nickname and Personality

The nickname “Froggy” stuck with Hands throughout his pro career. He picked it up with the San Francisco Giants in 1965, when teammates noticed his delivery looked a lot like Don Larsen’s, who was called “Big Froggy.”

At first, they called him “Little Froggy,” but eventually it just became “Froggy.” He brought a no-nonsense attitude to the mound, which fit his straightforward personality. People described Hands as smart and competitive, just as comfortable at chess as he was on the baseball diamond.

The nickname became part of his identity as a control pitcher. Teammates and fans knew him by it, and it captured both his style and his spot in baseball culture.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

After calling it quits in 1975, Bill Hands made a smooth shift from baseball to running his own business and getting involved in the community in Orient, New York. He became a well-liked local through his service station and stayed connected to baseball by mentoring young players.

Business Ventures After Baseball

Bill Hands bought the Orient Service Station on Main Road and ran it himself, turning it into a spot where locals actually wanted to hang out. People would swing by, fill up their tanks, and end up chatting about baseball or, honestly, just about anything.

Carol Gillooly, who lived nearby, compared the place to the barber shop from ‘Andy Griffith.’ She said, “Everybody would be trying to solve the problems of the world and talking about baseball.” That paints a pretty vivid picture, doesn’t it?

After he retired from baseball, Hands ran the business for decades. The service station kept him close to the community and gave him a steady paycheck.

He used the business as a way to share baseball stories with anyone curious enough to ask. Troy Gustavson, who published the Suffolk Times, used to stop by and bring up the Cubs, but he found Hands “very low key” about his baseball achievements.

Community Involvement and Personal Interests

Hands stayed close to baseball by coaching and mentoring young players. He passed along his love for the game to the next wave of athletes.

When he wasn’t on the field, golf took over as his main passion. He joined Islands End Golf Club in Greenport and played every Friday for years with golf pro Bill Fish.

Fish said Hands was “an excellent athlete” who loved golf, the outdoors, and fishing. On the golf course, people knew him for his quick wit and humor.

He never stopped rooting for the Chicago Cubs. He wore his Cubs hat all the time and was genuinely thrilled when they finally won the World Series in 2016.

Film critic Jeffrey Lyons became one of Hands’ close friends. They’d swap baseball trivia and talk about players from Hands’ era—how many people can say they did that?

Recognition and Hall of Fame Inductions

While there aren’t many records about major hall of fame inductions, Hands’ baseball legacy still gets plenty of respect from fans and former players. His 20-win season in 1969 with the Cubs stands out as a highlight that people in baseball circles remember.

Jeffrey Lyons pointed out that legends like Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle would make gestures to show how tough it was to hit Hands’ slider whenever someone mentioned his name.

Hands never bragged about his baseball career, and people respected him for that. Troy Gustavson noticed that Hands stayed “very low key” about his time in Major League Baseball, even when it came to that standout 1969 season.

The Rutherford native’s stories and baseball smarts made him a respected figure in Orient. He shared what he knew with young players, keeping baseball traditions alive in the area.

Impact on Baseball and Remembering Bill Hands

Bill Hands made his mark on baseball with his pitching achievements and steady presence during his 11-year career. His legacy sticks around in baseball history and in the memories of those who knew him as a player or as a community member.

Influence on the Game

Bill Hands reached his peak during the 1969 season with the Chicago Cubs. He joined a pretty exclusive group of Cubs pitchers by winning 20 games in a single season. That really put him among the top pitchers of his day.

He played 11 seasons from 1965 to 1975. Four MLB teams—the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers—got to see his pitching up close.

Hands finished his career with 111 wins and 110 losses, showing he was reliable year after year. Over 374 games, he racked up 1,128 strikeouts. Not bad at all.

Fans started calling him “Froggy” during his playing days, and the nickname stuck. It’s one of those little things that keeps his memory alive in baseball lore.

Contemporary and Fan Perspectives

People who spent time with Bill Hands describe him as straightforward, both on and off the field. If you talked baseball with him, you’d find the conversation honest and maybe even a little surprising in how genuine it felt.

His sudden death on March 9, 2017, caught a lot of people off guard. Fans and old teammates remembered him as a control pitcher who played the game with skill and integrity.

In Orient, where he settled after retiring, his passing hit hard. He became one of the hamlet’s most beloved residents. Hands owned the Orient Service Station on Main Street, which really showed how much he cared about the local community.

His son and other family members have talked about how he kept the family close. That side of Hands—the family man—shows there was a lot more to him than just baseball.

Connection to Baseball History Resources

You can find Bill Hands’ career stats and achievements in several baseball databases. Baseball-Reference.com keeps detailed records of his pitching with all four teams he played for.

StatsCrew.com covers his full career from 1965 to 1975. If you’re curious about his impact on the game, these resources give newer fans a chance to appreciate his legacy.

The MLB record books highlight his 20-game winning season with the Chicago Cubs in 1969. That season still stands out in Cubs franchise history and, honestly, in baseball lore too.

Retrosheet and other baseball history groups save game-by-game data from his career. Thanks to these detailed records, researchers and fans can dig into his pitching patterns and see how his performance changed over the years.